By Brian Hernandez
Let’s be clear: the machines have not become self-aware (yet). No delivery robot is chasing customers down the sidewalk yelling, “YOUR REWARD POINTS ARE INSUFFICIENT.” But the tech pressure is real, and it’s already inside the shop. These days, operators are expected to juggle everything: phones, apps, marketing, customer service, and a dinner rush that looks like the opening scene of a disaster movie. Today’s customers want frictionless ordering and fast delivery, and if you can’t provide it, they’re gone.
That’s why Slice stepping in as a Gold Sponsor of PMQ’s U.S. Pizza Team matters. It’s Slice saying independents shouldn’t have to fight the tech war alone. In the upcoming battle against the machines, Slice is choosing to back the humans.
Slice contributed key data to PMQ Pizza’s 2026 Pizza Power Report (click here to download it), and its founder/CEO, Ilir Sela, shared his wisdom in a recent PMQ webinar titled, “Are Pizza Chains Running Out of Steam?” (click here to download it).
In a recent interview with PMQ, Slice VP of Marketing Patricia Cornet went straight to the truth. “Independent pizzerias are the backbone of this industry,” she said. “They work harder than anyone, and they rarely get the spotlight or support they deserve.”
Cornet said sponsoring the U.S. Pizza Team is “a direct way to stand with the shops who set the standard for craft and discipline.”
And Slice’s mission is simple: “Lift up the independents and help them gain every advantage they can.”
Slice knows chains dominate the industry’s overall sales because they have better systems, bigger budgets and tech infrastructure that runs smoothly. Independents are still fighting with one hand on the peel and the other trying to answer the phone. Slice wants to help even the score.
Tech Is Your Friend
Cornet said Slice’s mission has evolved because they listened to operators. What they heard was blunt: “Most owners don’t want more technology to manage. They want fewer things on their plate so they can focus on making great pizza and taking care of customers.”
Cornet said Slice can take on the work owners either can’t get to or don’t want to handle, such as “answering phones, managing online orders, doing marketing, running deliveries, and dealing with customer issues.”
“When those jobs are handled well, owners get time back and their business runs more smoothly,” she said. In other words, Slice isn’t trying to turn pizza people into tech people. It’s trying to help them avoid burnout.
Cornet said partnering with U.S. Pizza Team members keeps Slice focused on what matters most in a shop: “bringing in more orders, keeping costs under control, and giving owners more time to spend where it counts—on their food, their teams and their customers.”
USPT members also provide real-world insight into where shops are getting crushed. “Being there alongside them gives us a front-row look at what really slows a pizza shop down,” Cornet said, pointing to long phone calls, managing online orders, marketing and deliveries.
Slice aims to build support for independents everywhere, Cornet said, “so we can help every independent pizzeria run smoother and focus on what matters most: making great pizza and keeping customers happy.”
“Great pizza is what keeps customers coming back,” Cornet added, and Slice protects that craft by removing the distractions. She also said the USPT’s competitive spirit pushes Slice to help shops “compete with big chains while staying true to their own style and independence.”
“These values aren’t just abstract ideas,” she said. “They reflect the work we do every day.”
Cornet said Slice is finalizing its 2026 plans but expects to stay active with the U.S. Pizza Team through events, competitions and spotlighting members through PR and social media. Slice is also exploring an Ambassador Program so top operators can share expertise and help shape future support.
On the tech side, Slice’s goal is to help owners “get time back and make more money” through a one-stop model that handles key tasks like phone orders, online presence and marketing.
