Bushra Griffith
Little Caesars is one of the least expensive fast-food pizza chains in the US. The pizza chain has recently raised its prices for the first time in almost 25 years, but it still remains one of the cheapest options available. One of the ways the company keeps costs low is by using cheaper ingredients, including low-quality cheese. So, do Little Caesars pizzas use real cheese?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese Type | Mozzarella, Muenster |
| Cheese Supplier | Leprino's corp |
| Cheese Cost | $2 for a cheese pizza |
| Cheese Quality | Low-moisture, pre-shredded, low-quality |
| Cheese Quantity | Used sparingly |
| Pizza Type | Inexpensive |
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What You'll Learn
Little Caesars uses a blend of mozzarella and Muenster cheese
Mozzarella is the primary cheese used by Little Caesars, and they use a specific type of mozzarella to save money. They use pre-shredded, low-moisture mozzarella cheese, which can be stored for a long time. This type of cheese also has low fat, which affects the stretchability of the cheese. In addition, workers are instructed to sprinkle the cheese sparingly, so each pizza uses a minimal amount.
Muenster cheese is used in addition to mozzarella on the Hot-N-Ready pizzas. One source describes the blend as one part Muenster and three parts mozzarella. Another source describes the blend as low-moisture, part-skim, and whole milk mozzarella with Muenster cheese.
Little Caesars' cheese supplier is Leprino, which produces and sells cheese at various price points and qualities.
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The cheese is pre-shredded, which saves time but affects quality
Little Caesars is one of the least expensive fast-food pizza chains in the United States. The chain's $5 pizzas are cheap, and the chain is able to lure customers into adding other items such as wings and soft drinks to their orders. The pizza dough is made in-house, but the cheese is pre-shredded, which saves time but affects quality.
The cheese is a major factor in keeping prices low. According to a former employee, the $5 pizzas were cheaper to make because they used half the cheese of a normal pizza. Cheese is the highest-cost ingredient in a pizza. Little Caesars uses pre-shredded, low-moisture cheese, which has a longer shelf life. This is likely why they switched from shredding the cheese in-store. While this saves time and money, it affects the quality of the pizza, as the cheese doesn't melt properly.
Little Caesars uses mozzarella cheese made from real cow's milk, which is cheaper than other varieties. The cheese is a combination of one part Muenster and three parts mozzarella cheese, thinly spread across the pizza. The chain also uses a blend of low-moisture, part-skim, and whole milk mozzarella. This blend has very low fat content, which affects the stretchability of the cheese.
The quality of the cheese has reportedly declined over the years. One customer noted that the cheese had a "terrible, yellow glutinous" appearance and tasted like American cheese, which is a cheese product made of oil and colouring. Another customer described it as "plastic crap" that doesn't melt correctly. These issues may be due to the use of pre-shredded cheese, which is a cost-saving measure.
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Cheese is Little Caesars' highest ingredient cost
Little Caesars is one of the least expensive fast-food pizza chains in the US. The company has not raised its prices in almost 25 years, and its $5 pizzas are extremely affordable.
Cheese is the highest ingredient cost for Little Caesars. According to a former employee, the $5 pizzas were cheaper to make because they used half the cheese of a normal pizza. Cheese makes up 40% of a pizza's cost. To cut costs, Little Caesars uses pre-shredded, low-moisture cheese, which can be stored for longer. The cheese is a combination of one part Muenster and three parts mozzarella cheese. The mozzarella is made from real cow's milk and is purchased from Leprino's.
The chain also saves money by using a minimal toppings policy. Little Caesars workers are instructed to sprinkle the cheese sparingly, and the same approach is taken with meat toppings. By closely controlling the quantity of toppings on each pizza, the company can save money on its consistently made product.
Little Caesars also saves money by being a takeout-only destination, avoiding the overhead costs of maintaining a dining area. The company also does not run its own delivery service, further reducing costs.
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The chain saves money by using less cheese than competitors
Little Caesars is one of the least expensive fast-food pizza chains in the US. The chain has managed to keep its prices low by using cheaper ingredients, especially cheese, which makes up 40% of a pizza's cost.
Little Caesars uses a blend of low-moisture, part-skim, and whole milk mozzarella and Muenster cheese. This pre-shredded cheese can be stored for a long time, reducing waste and saving the company money. However, some customers have complained about the quality of the cheese, describing it as "plastic crap" that doesn't melt properly.
The chain also saves money by using less cheese than its competitors. A former employee revealed that the $5 pizzas were cheaper to make because they used half the cheese of a normal pizza. Workers are instructed to sprinkle the cheese conservatively, resulting in pizzas with fewer toppings but consistent quality.
Little Caesars also keeps costs down by using a pickup model rather than offering delivery services. Customers pick up their orders from a contactless Pizza Portal, reducing the need for employees to interact with customers or clean heavily trafficked areas. This model also encourages customers to add additional items, such as wings and soft drinks, to their orders while they are in the store.
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Little Caesars is a takeout-only destination, reducing overheads
Little Caesars is a well-known pizza chain in the US, and it has gained a reputation for being one of the least expensive options for pizza lovers. The chain has recently raised its prices for the first time in almost 25 years, but it still remains highly affordable.
One of the key ways Little Caesars keeps costs down is by being a takeout-only destination. By not offering a dine-in option, the company saves significantly on overheads. They do not have the costs associated with maintaining a restaurant dining area, such as additional staff, furniture, and decor. This strategy has proven successful, with the chain bringing in $4.5 billion in annual system-wide sales.
Little Caesars also saves on costs by not running its own delivery service. Instead, they offer delivery through third-party services, which again reduces their overheads. This model has been praised by industry experts, who note that it allows the company to make more money through the pickup model. Customers are lured into stores, where they are likely to add additional items to their orders, and the pickup process reduces the workload for employees.
In addition to these operational strategies, Little Caesars also keeps costs low by using cheaper ingredients, particularly when it comes to cheese. Cheese makes up a significant proportion of a pizza's cost, so the company uses pre-shredded, low-moisture cheese, which can be stored for longer and spread thinly. They also use less cheese than other pizza chains, instructing workers to sprinkle conservatively.
Little Caesars has found a successful formula by combining their takeout-only model with cost-saving ingredient choices. This has allowed them to offer highly competitive prices and generate substantial revenue.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Little Caesars uses real cheese. They use a blend of low-moisture, part-skim, and whole milk mozzarella and Muenster cheese.
Little Caesars Pizza uses pre-shredded cheese to save costs. Pre-shredded cheese has low moisture and less fat content, which may affect the taste and texture of the cheese.
Cheese is the most expensive ingredient on a pizza, making up 40% of its cost. To save money, Little Caesars uses pre-shredded, low-moisture cheese, which has a longer shelf life, and they spread it thinly across the pizza.
Yes, Little Caesars makes its pizza dough in-house daily or every other day.
Little Caesars keeps its prices low by using cheaper ingredients, buying money-saving mozzarella, and limiting the amount of cheese and other toppings on their pizzas. They also save on overhead costs by not offering dining-in or delivery services.
