2025 Pizza Trends: How Pizzerias Prepare & Profit on Halloween
While the world trick or treats, you’re neck deep in dough and orders and chaos.
Unsurprisingly, 88% of pizzerias see a spike in orders on Halloween, according to a recent Slice poll of 50,000 people. Additionally, nearly half of those shops report sales doubling (or even tripling) compared to a normal night.
With volume comes stress.
Here are the 2025 Halloween trends by the numbers, and what your pizzeria can do to prepare and profit from the night.
The Halloween Rush Is Real
DID YOU KNOW: roughly 8.2 million pizzas are ordered daily, and Halloween pushes that number up by about 40%?
According to our data, most of these orders happen in one intense window between 5 and 7 PM.
Takeaway: Brace yourself and your staff for the 5PM-7PM window.
“Everyone wants their pizza at 5:30–6.”
Question to ask: Is my POS ready for the rush, and able to handle this volume of orders in a timely manner?
The Staffing Nightmare
Speaking of staff, 54% of owners told us that staffing is their biggest issue on Halloween. And when it comes to finding extra help, 90% said it’s like pulling teeth.
“The hard part about Halloween is employees with kids who want the night off,” one owner told us.
You’re just praying no one calls in “sick.”
Despite pulling teeth, we heard owners still find ways to keep spirits up. “We offer some perks like post-shift meals and letting our teams clock out early for parties.”
TAKEAWAY: Pray no one calls in sick, but prepare for it to happen.
“Everybody wants off on Halloween knowing damn well it’s the busiest day of the year.”
Question to ask: What happens if I don’t have enough staff? Can I support these deliveries?
Menu Simplicity Wins
Rushes mean efficiency. Thinking of pairing down your menu?
Data showed:
85% of shops don’t offer Halloween-themed items.
75% stick to the classics.
“We probably sell more large cheese pizzas on Halloween than we do at any other time of the year,” one owner told us when we asked.
TAKEAWAY: Sticking to the classics will save you headaches.
“Pizza in, pizza out. That’s all we can do. As the owner, I’ll do all the stressing for everyone else.”
Question to ask: How can I make the online ordering process as easy as possible for customers in a rush?
Social Media Beats Traditional Advertising
How’s your social media game?
Our poll revealed 65% of shop owners rely on social media to communicate specials, while only 35% spend money on advertising.
Instagram leads the pack at 68%, followed by TikTok at 24%. And even in these platforms, it’s all about organic reach, not boosted posts.
This drives home how important social media and building that community is.
TAKEAWAY: Halloween is less about sales gimmicks and more about the pizza itself.
Question to ask: Am I marketing my pizzeria effectively to reach as many people as possible?
Keep it “Real”
Even with all the pressure, our poll showcased your humor and humanity.
One owner played the tape forward, stating, “The calm before the storm; you’re just thinking about the waterfall of checks coming in.”
TAKEAWAY: Through it all, remember you and your staff are people, and you’re giving it your all.
“One of my biggest challenges, honestly, is trying to work in costume without my wig catching fire. ”
Question to ask: Do I have the support I need to get through this night and make a profit?
Prepare & Profit on Halloween
Yes, Halloween is hectic for your shop. But it’s also a reminder that you aren’t just feeding your neighborhood. In many ways, you are the neighborhood.
The owners that chimed in on our recent poll showed us the true spirit of independent pizzerias: community, adaptability, and a sense of humor through the madness.
If your shop doesn’t keep local thriving, who will?
Good luck, and happy Halloween.
