Did you know that Halloween is one of the busiest pizza selling days of the year? It ranks in the top five selling days with Super Bowl Sunday, the night before Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. And because the whole month of October is National Pizza Month, you don't have to wait until the final day of October to enjoy a delicious pie.

There's nothing better than the taste of a fresh pie from your local, non-chain pizzeria, where more often than not, they use only fresh ingredients. After all, when your name and reputation is riding on every slice, you're bound to go the extra mile. That is why it comes as no surprise that 81 percent of over 1,000 respondents in Restaurant.com's consumer pizza survey and infographic say they prefer independently owned pizza restaurants to chain pizzerias.

"Americans love pizza, and especially piping hot from the oven of their favorite local pizzeria," said Restaurant.com President and Chief Marketing Officer, Christopher Krohn.

"Pizza is such a versatile food that each restaurant can feature its own signature style, from family favorites like cheesy pepperoni, to classic Italian tomato and basil Margarita, to creative regional interpretations like Thai peanut chicken. At Restaurant.com, we connect thousands of restaurants with new customers every day by helping diners discover delicious pizza deals wherever their travels may take them, even if that is just around the corner for a hot, tasty slice."

To date, there are approximately 70,000 pizzerias in the United States alone. This compares to about 14,000 McDonalds restaurants that are in operation across the United States. So what is it about pizza that makes it consistently one of America's most popular and frequently eaten foods? For starters, data from Restaurant.com's consumer pizza survey suggests that pizza's popularity can be attributed to its convenience (chances are that you can find a local pizzeria just minutes from where you live or work) and thanks to its endless variations, it's usually a safe bet that everyone you're dining with will find something they'll like. In fact, statistics show that 93 percent of Americans have at least one slice per month.

Coupons and deals are another reason why pizza is so prominent in the United States. In the Restaurant.com consumer pizza survey, 69 percent of the total respondents said they use coupons or deals at least some of the time when ordering pizza. Fortunately for pizza eaters, Restaurant.com is the ideal place to save money on their favorite pies and find great deals!

For more stats and fun facts from Restaurant.com's National Pizza Month Survey, visit http://thedish.restaurant.com/slicing-it-up-the-meaty-and-veggie-details-of-pizza-eating/. Visit Restaurant.com for more information about the company or find them on Facebook or Twitter @Restaurant_com.

About Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com is the trusted and valued source connecting restaurants and diners nationwide. The company offers savings at thousands of restaurants nationwide with more than 50,000 gift certificate options. Restaurant.com brings people together to relax, converse and enjoy well-prepared and -served meals at affordable prices. To date, Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $1 billion through the gift certificate program. Restaurant.com has operated since 1999 and is based in Arlington Heights, Ill.

Media Contact: Kelli McCready
Phone: (800) 979-8985, Email: pr(at)restaurant(dot)com

Pizza News