For many Americans, the leading pizza chains are often thought to be Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa John’s, and perhaps Little Caesar’s. However, a lesser-known player has quietly risen to the top, outpacing these well-known brands. Enter Hunt Brothers Pizza, now the largest pizza chain in the United States.
Hunt Brothers Pizza, established by the four original Hunt brothers—Don, Charlie, Jim, and Lonnie—in 1991, has strategically positioned itself in the market by operating out of convenience stores and gas stations rather than traditional standalone restaurants. This innovative approach has allowed Hunt Brothers to amass 9,703 outlets in over 4,000 cities across 36 states. By February, this impressive number made it the largest pizza chain in the US.
Unlike its rivals, Hunt Brothers benefits from the collective foot traffic of the businesses it shares space with, effectively maximizing its reach without the overhead costs of maintaining standalone restaurants. This model has proven successful, allowing Hunt Brothers to thrive in a highly competitive market.
The chain offers a simple yet versatile menu, featuring ten different toppings with pizzas priced between $10 and $12, depending on the location. For early travelers, Hunt Brothers provides a Breakfast Pizza topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage crumbles, and cheese. Additionally, they offer chicken wings and boneless WingBites in four flavors: Home Style, Buffalo, Southern Style, and Hot ‘n Spicy.
Despite its massive footprint, Hunt Brothers remains family-owned and has even secured sponsorships with high-profile figures, such as NASCAR driver Joey Logano. This combination of widespread availability and strong brand partnerships has cemented its place at the top of the American pizza market.
While Hunt Brothers leads in the number of locations, its competitors still dominate in profitability. Domino’s Pizza, the second-largest chain, operates 6,929 locations across the 50 states and two territories, with a significant presence in Texas, boasting 742 locations. Pizza Hut follows closely with 6,775 locations. Both Domino’s and Pizza Hut benefit from in-restaurant dining options and delivery services, contributing to their higher profit margins.
A recent survey sought to identify the best cities for pizza in America, a title often contested by New York City, Chicago, and more recently, Detroit. However, the latest study crowned Denver, Colorado, as the top city for pizza. Researchers from Clever Real Estate considered factors such as typical prices, the number of restaurants, customer ratings, and a ‘pizza passion’ score. Denver excelled across these measures among the 50 largest US metropolitan areas.
Interestingly, New York City received an unwanted distinction as the city with the most expensive pizzas, where a large pepperoni pizza can cost almost $34.
Hunt Brothers Pizza has quietly but effectively established itself as America’s largest pizza chain through a unique business model that leverages convenience store partnerships. With an extensive network of locations and a diverse menu, it continues to grow while remaining family-owned. As the pizza landscape evolves, Hunt Brothers Pizza’s innovative approach may well set the standard for future market leaders.