⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Why Pizza Hut Expects to Set a Sales Record on Thanksgiving Eve For pizza chains, the day before Thanksgiving is one of the five busiest days of the year.

By Kate Taylor

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Settawat Udom | Shutterstock.com

On Thanksgiving, turkey takes the center stage. However, on Thanksgiving Eve, pizza is the surprise MVP for many families.

The day before Thanksgiving is one of the five busiest days of the year for the pizza industry, as customers seek a convenient meal after a busy day of traveling and holiday preparations. And, with a restaurant revamp that doubles menu options, Pizza Hut believes that this means a record-setting day for the brand.

Pizza Hut anticipates serving more than 1.2 million pizzas today, an increase from last year when the chain sold 1 million pizzas on Thanksgiving Eve. While the most popular pizzas are still pepperoni and cheese, nearly half of the pizzas sold are expected to feature at least one new flavor and/or ingredient, such as sriracha sauce, fresh spinach or pretzel crust.

Related: Inside Pizza Hut's Radical Move to Double Its Menu

"We treat [Thanksgiving Eve] much like the Super Bowl," says Pizza Hut spokesperson Doug Terfehr. "Early morning team meeting, review of all the new pizzas and specials and plenty of drivers ready to deliver!"

The next big pizza sales day this year is New Year's Eve. Also making the list of the five busiest days for pizza chains: Halloween and Valentine's Day.

Related: For America's No. 5 Pizza Chain, Moms Are the Secret Sauce

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.