Domino’s might be the largest pizza chain in the U.S., but it’s not necessarily the most beloved. According to a new survey from Savanta, that honor goes to Pizza Hut.
Savanta recently rolled out Brandvue’s “Most Loved Eating Out Brands 2023,” answering the question, “Who is winning the hearts of U.S. diners?”
The survey is based on the opinions of more than 72,000 consumers through Savanta’s marketing intelligence platform, Brandvue Eating Out. The company says it’s “the largest and most comprehensive brand, audience and customer tracking engine in the market.” The survey covers all major categories, from Italian or Pizza to Asian, Mexican burgers, chicken and more.
Related: Here’s how Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana keeps customer interest high
Consumers were asked their opinion of hundreds of restaurant brands and evaluated them with scores ranging from 1 (for “love”) to 7 (for “hate”).
In the category of Italian or Pizza, Olive Garden took the top spot, while Pizza Hut was No. 2 and Pizza Ranch was No. 3.
In the top 100 ranking for all major restaurant brands, Pizza Hut came in at No. 14, while Pizza Ranch finished 15th. Domino’s didn’t quite crack the top 25—it was ranked No 26. Other pizza chains in the top 100 included:
Jet’s Pizza, No. 31
Mellow Mushroom, No. 43
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings, No. 62
MOD Pizza, No. 63
Marco’s Pizza, No. 67
Papa John’s, No. 71
Little Caesars, No. 77
Papa Murphy’s, No. 98
Fazoli’s, No. 99
For 2023, Pizza Ranch showed the most improvement among the most loved pizza chains, with a +29 gain compared to last year’s survey.
None of the major pizza chains claimed a top 10 spot. Chick-fil-A ranked No. 1 on the list, followed by Starbucks, McDonald’s, Texas Roadhouse, Krispy Kreme, Olive Garden, Raising Cane’s, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts and In-N-Out Burger.
Meanwhile, fast-food mainstays like Burger King, Dairy Queen, Five Guys, Whataburger and Shake Shack slipped at least 10 places in the rankings.
So what’s going on with the burger brands? “It’s been widely reported that the younger generations—Millennials and Gen Z—have more varied tastes than their predecessors,” the report notes. “Faced with more choices, they’re enjoying the chance to experiment. The rise of Instagram is also a probable contributing factor as younger consumers seek something different that stands out as a ‘gram-able’ snap.”
The survey also found that 92% of U.S. consumers are aware of DoorDash, and 88% know about Uber Eats. In fact, both third-party delivery companies were listed as “eating out brands,” with DoorDash climbing 11 places since last year to take the No. 27 spot, while Uber Eats vaulted 14 places to No. 42.
“The U.S. has witnessed a profound metamorphosis in its food delivery landscape,” the report states. “What once was a niche convenience has catapulted into a ubiquitous service, echoing America’s fast-paced, technology-driven lifestyle. Brands like DoorDash and Uber Eats, though relatively young, have deeply integrated into the daily rhythms of Americans, a fact reinforced by their swift ascent in consumer rankings.”
