From Milan to Mzansi: Pizza wins over South Africa as fast-food fave

Mamma mia!

The humble Italian pizza is giving the Colonel and other fried chicken outlets a run for their money as the nation's second-best-loved fast-food favourite.

According to new data from Eighty20, pizza is now more popular than burgers and other convenience cuisines.

Andrew Fulton from Eighty20 says it's quite the shocker.

"Everyone knows South Africans love chicken, so it was quite a surprise to us."

Debonairs Pizza, owned by Famous Brands, is leading the charge, pulling in a whopping R8.28 billion (up from R8.02 billion) in the 2025 financial year.

Moreover, plans for new branches this year signal that pizza’s popularity is only set to grow.

"If you were to go out with your girlfriends and order one burger to share, you'll probably get a funny look from the waitress, but to share a pizza, nobody's gonna say, 'Well, there's a minimum.' It could certainly be a way of getting around the pricing issue."

ALSO READ: Both Joburg and Cape Town make Time Out's 'best pizzas in the world' list

Moreover, the research shows the biggest fans of pizza tend to be more affluent consumers, including, as Eighty20 refers to them, 'Middle Class Workers, Heavy Hitters, and Comfortable Retirees'.

Families and young couples also account for a large share of pizza orders, making a margherita or a Hawaiian the go-to choice for a family Friday night in, or date night dinner.

The data becomes slightly less surprising when one remembers that both Johannesburg and Cape Town have been named by Time Out Travel as being home to some of the best pizzas on the planet.

Naming its top 18 pizzas across the globe recently, eateries in both cities secured a mention.

A pizzeria in Johannesburg pipped the Mother City to 6th place, with the Cape Town choice coming in at number 11.

Little Kitchener’s Pizzeria was lauded for its Pepperoni and Hot Honey Pizza, while the Mother City's Pizza Connection earned a place on the list courtesy of its mouth-watering 'Capetonian' topped with Fior di Latte and San Marzano, along with pancetta, red onion and avocado.

To listen to Fulton in conversation with CapeTalk's Clarence Ford, use the audio player below: