Episode 5: The Pizza Franchise Wars

In episode five of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen explore the battle that changed pizza forever. What happens when a beloved local food becomes a national business? From a small pizza shop founded by two brothers in Kansas to the rise of massive restaurant chains, this episode examines how franchising transformed pizza from a regional specialty into one of the world's most recognizable foods. Topics Covered: The founding stories of Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and more How franchising revolutionized the pizza business The shift from regional pizza traditions to standardized products Why chain restaurants made pizza accessible across America The rise of Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Little Caesars The ongoing tension between independent pizzerias and national chains The birth and growth of the frozen pizza industry Pizza's surprising journey back to northern Italy How pizza became a truly global food From neighborhood pizzerias to international corporations, this episode traces the business innovations, cultural shifts, and entrepreneurial gambles that turned pizza into a worldwide phenomenon.