Kamil Perry
Pizza Hut is one of the world's most popular pizza chains, and its cheese is supplied by Leprino Foods, the world's largest mozzarella company. Leprino Foods supplies cheese to other popular pizza chains like Domino's and Papa John's. The company was founded by Mike Leprino Sr., who started making fresh mozzarella balls in the original Leprino Foods store in 1958. Leprino Foods supplies Pizza Hut with a pizza cheese that is made with part-skim mozzarella, which has less fat and fewer calories than whole-milk mozzarella. This type of mozzarella is also stretchier but may lose some flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Mozzarella |
| Cheese brand | Leprino Foods |
| Cheese variants | Low-moisture mozzarella, diced mozzarella, artisanal mozzarella, flavored cheeses with a mozzarella base, provolone, cheddar, and Monterey Jack |
| Cheese ingredients | Pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, modified food starch, whey protein concentrate, nonfat milk, and sodium propionate |
| Cheese texture | Stretchy |
| Cheese flavor | Less flavor than full-fat mozzarella |
| Other specialty pizzas | Contain Parmesan romano cheese |
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What You'll Learn
- Pizza Hut uses mozzarella cheese, primarily part-skim mozzarella
- Leprino Foods is Pizza Hut's cheese supplier
- Leprino Foods is the world's largest mozzarella company
- Leprino Foods' mozzarella has been criticised for using polydimethylsiloxane, an unapproved silicone industrial chemical
- Pre-shredded whole milk mozzarella is not ideal for pizza
Pizza Hut uses mozzarella cheese, primarily part-skim mozzarella
Pizza Hut sources its cheese from Leprino Foods, the world's largest mozzarella company, with sales of over $3 billion annually. Leprino Foods is based in Colorado and supplies cheese to other large pizza chains like Domino's and Papa John's. The company's mozzarella is made from pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, modified food starch, whey protein concentrate, nonfat milk, and sodium propionate.
Some people have raised concerns about the ingredients used in Leprino Foods' mozzarella. In 2006, a report by the magazine "The Milkwood" suggested that the company's cheese uses polydimethylsiloxane, a silicone industrial chemical that is not approved by the FDA for use in food. However, Leprino Foods has denied these claims and stated that they fully comply with FDA regulations.
While Pizza Hut primarily uses part-skim mozzarella, some of its specialty pizzas contain Parmesan romano cheese. Additionally, the chain has introduced vegan cheese options in some regions, although these have not been widely available.
Mozzarella cheese is available in various forms, including part-skim, whole milk, and fat-free. Whole milk mozzarella is often preferred by high-end pizzerias as it melts better and has a richer flavor. However, it can be difficult to find in stores, and pre-shredded whole milk mozzarella may not be ideal for pizza due to the use of anti-caking agents.
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Leprino Foods is Pizza Hut's cheese supplier
Leprino Foods was founded in 1958 by Mike Leprino Sr. after larger chain grocery stores forced the Leprino market to close. The company started with $615 and the production of fresh mozzarella balls. The same year, the first Pizza Hut opened in Wichita, Kansas. Leprino Foods began supplying Pizza Hut in 1968, when the pizza chain was looking for a supplier to help it cut costs and standardize portions. Leprino Foods addressed this issue by selling frozen, pre-sliced blocks of cheese, which solved the problem of inconsistent shredding in franchises.
Pizza Hut primarily uses part-skim mozzarella cheese on its pizzas, which has less fat and fewer calories than whole-milk mozzarella. The chain also uses Parmesan romano cheese on some of its specialty pizzas. Leprino Foods' mozzarella cheese has been the subject of controversy, as a 2006 report by "The Milkwood" suggested that it contains polydimethylsiloxane, a silicone industrial chemical that is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in food. However, Leprino Foods has denied the use of this chemical and stated that it fully complies with FDA regulations.
Leprino Foods' dominance in the market has allowed it to invest in advanced technology, resulting in over 50 patents and an estimated 7% net margin, which surpasses the dairy industry average. The company supplies cheese to other major pizza chains, including Domino's, Papa John's, and Little Caesars.
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Leprino Foods is the world's largest mozzarella company
Pizza Hut, like other pizza restaurants, uses mozzarella cheese on its pizzas. Most Pizza Hut chains use the brand Leprino Foods for their mozzarella cheese. Leprino Foods is based in Colorado and is the largest mozzarella cheese producer in the world.
Leprino Foods was started in 1958 by Mike Leprino Sr. with $615. The company began making fresh mozzarella balls in the original Leprino Foods store. The same year, the first Pizza Hut opened in Wichita, Kansas. Leprino Foods now supplies cheese to Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, and Little Caesars.
Leprino Foods' focus on large pizza chains has allowed it to dominate the market for pizza cheese, controlling up to 85% of the market. This has resulted in numerous advantages for the company, including the ability to invest in advanced technology and achieve a high net margin.
Leprino Foods supplies Pizza Hut with a variety of mozzarella cheeses, including low-moisture mozzarella, diced mozzarella, and an "artisanal" version. They also provide flavored cheeses made with a mozzarella base, such as provolone, cheddar, and Monterey Jack.
While Leprino Foods' mozzarella cheese is widely used, there have been concerns about its ingredients. In 2006, a report by "The Milkwood" magazine suggested that their mozzarella cheese contained polydimethylsiloxane, an industrial silicone chemical not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in food. However, Leprino Foods has denied the use of this chemical and stated that they fully comply with FDA regulations.
Leprino Foods' mozzarella cheese used by Pizza Hut is made with part-skim milk, also known as skim milk. This type of mozzarella has less fat and calories than whole-milk mozzarella and is commonly used by pizza chains due to its stretchiness and lower cost.
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Leprino Foods' mozzarella has been criticised for using polydimethylsiloxane, an unapproved silicone industrial chemical
Pizza Hut uses part-skim mozzarella cheese on the majority of its pizzas. Some of its specialty pizzas contain Parmesan romano cheese. Pizza Hut's cheese is supplied by Leprino Foods, which is based in Colorado and is the largest mozzarella cheese producer in the world.
Leprino Foods mozzarella has been criticised for allegedly using polydimethylsiloxane, a silicone industrial chemical that is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in food. This claim was made in a 2006 report by the magazine "The Milkwood", which examined a patent from 1988 in which Leprino Foods stated its ingredients and processes for making pizza cheese. However, Leprino Foods has denied using this chemical in its mozzarella cheese production and asserts that it fully complies with FDA regulations.
Leprino Foods' entry into the pizza cheese market began in 1968 when Pizza Hut was seeking a supplier to help reduce costs and standardise portions. Leprino Foods addressed this challenge by supplying frozen, pre-sliced blocks of cheese, which were more efficient than the time-consuming and inconsistent process of shredding 5-pound cheese blocks in franchises. This marked the beginning of Leprino Foods' dominance in the pizza cheese market, where it now controls up to 85% of the market share.
The company's success can be attributed to its focus on supplying cheese to large pizza chains, allowing it to sell to competing companies like Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, and Little Caesars. This has granted Leprino Foods advantages in investing in technology, resulting in numerous patents and a higher net margin compared to the dairy industry average.
While Leprino Foods' mozzarella cheese has faced scrutiny for its alleged use of unapproved chemicals, the company maintains its compliance with FDA regulations. The controversy highlights the complexities of producing cheese on a mass scale for major pizza chains, where cost-effectiveness and consistency are prioritised.
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Pre-shredded whole milk mozzarella is not ideal for pizza
Pizza Hut uses part-skim mozzarella cheese on most of its pizzas. While whole milk mozzarella is a popular choice for pizza, it is often difficult to find in local grocery stores. This has led to the use of part-skim mozzarella as a more accessible and affordable alternative. However, when it comes to pre-shredded whole milk mozzarella, there are several reasons why it may not be ideal for pizza.
Pre-shredded whole milk mozzarella is typically coated with anti-caking agents or desiccating powder to prevent the shreds from clumping together in the package. These additives can affect the melting and cooking behaviour of the cheese. During baking, the starches in pre-shredded mozzarella can soak up moisture, resulting in drier cheese. Additionally, they may burn more easily at high temperatures, leading to an unappealing crust formation.
The presence of anti-caking agents and starches can also impact the taste and texture of the cheese. Some people find that pre-shredded mozzarella has an unpleasantly gritty mouthfeel when eaten raw due to the starches. Furthermore, the anti-caking agents can interfere with the melting of the cheese, resulting in less-than-ideal melted cheese on pizza.
Another factor to consider is the moisture content of the cheese. Fresh mozzarella, which is commonly used in Neapolitan-style pizza, has a high moisture content. However, pre-shredded mozzarella tends to be low-moisture cheese, which can affect its melting and stretching abilities. Low-moisture mozzarella may not provide the same creamy texture and flavour as its high-moisture counterpart when melted.
Lastly, pre-shredded mozzarella may not offer the same level of customisation as purchasing a block of cheese and shredding it yourself. When buying a block of whole milk mozzarella, individuals can adjust the thickness of the shreds to their preference. This allows for a more personalised pizza-making experience.
In summary, while whole milk mozzarella is a popular choice for pizza, the pre-shredded variety may not be ideal due to the presence of anti-caking agents, starches, and moisture content. These factors can impact the melting, taste, and texture of the cheese, ultimately affecting the overall pizza-making and dining experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Pizza Hut uses cheese made by Leprino Foods, a company based in Colorado, which is the largest mozzarella cheese producer in the world.
Pizza Hut uses part-skim mozzarella cheese on the majority of its pizzas. This is a low-moisture cheese that is extremely stretchy but loses a little on the flavor end. Some of its specialty pizzas also contain Parmesan romano cheese.
While Pizza Hut's cheese is made with pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, and other additives, it is not considered "real" mozzarella.
