Weakness in US pizza chains drags down pizza box demand

As high inflation continues to reduce discretionary income for US consumers, dining out has become less affordable. US restaurant traffic has been declining for eight consecutive quarters, and pizza chains are also feeling the impact – as are producers of corrugated pizza boxes. However, demand for corrugated pizza boxes, which are only used for off-premise consumption, has been partially supported by an increasing shift from on-premise consumption to takeout and delivery. Still, overall demand for pizza boxes has been down from its pandemic peaks.

Pizza boxes remain a crucial outlet for many corrugated producers, who are suffering from wider loss of demand across the board. Strength in delivery platforms may make up for some of the loss, but public pizza chain transactions and sales are still trending negative. We anticipate that pizza box demand will remain weak throughout 2025, given a gloomy economic outlook and shifting consumer preferences toward healthier and more globally diverse foodservice options. On a brighter note, opportunities are emerging for customized, short-run pizza boxes. Corrugated producers should focus on innovations that elevate the consumer experience.