Is Clapham The Most Popular Place For Pizza?

It's a question I've been turning over in my mind for a while now but seeing my local Clapham pizza restaurant packed with satisfied customers night after night I started to wonder if Clapham Common is the most popular place to get pizza in the UK. I think the answer lies in analysing a few facts and statistics about the great Italian dish while sitting down to my favourite slice of double pepperoni.

Pizza is thriving in these tough economic times with the whole industry seeing an upturn in sales. The big numbers are to be found in take-out rather than eating-in but there are a few eateries bucking the trend because of a strong reputation of providing quality food in a customer focused environment. This is certainly evident when you see all the happy clientèle in the Clapham restaurant I frequent.

But is the UK market the strongest? It's certainly displaying some positive numbers but the Americans continue to enjoy top status which is no surprise given their rich history of eating the dish. The US has been hit hard by the economic downturn but restaurants in the States tend to be resilient in tough times due to a society that relies on grabbing take-out for daily eating.

The surprising success stories are coming from the Asian market. Go back ten years and you'd be hard-pressed to find Indians choosing takeaway dishes that originate from Italy. However, a regular slice of pie has become a ritual for millions of Indian families. And of course, pizza is such an adaptable cuisine that the Asian market has customised the dish to suit local tastes. With homegrown brands leading the way against the recognised Western brand names, revenue from sales in Asia is closing in on the US.

So how come the dish seamlessly integrates into the eating habits of such diverse cultures and economies? One reason is the way it can easily change to suit customer trends. As consumers, we are becoming savvy to the ingredients used in our food so many restaurants have switched to healthier options. My own pizza restaurant in Clapham is famed for the healthiest and lightest  dough base in the country. Research suggests that people seek out quality eating at affordable prices and pizza ticks both those boxes. So, restaurants serving the dish continue to succeed while other eateries offering more expensive dining options struggle.

And then we come to take-out. As we all look to tighten our belts in hard times takeaway prospers. A slice and a movie at home is a cheaper alternative to dining out and I know my local Clapham takeaway is always doing great business throughout the week and at weekends which proves the point somewhat.

So, while Clapham Common, or the UK for that matter, can't boast to be generating the most money from pizza sales, it is certainly a popular dish whether eating in at a restaurant or ordering out for a night in front of the telly.

For a fantastic Clapham pizza restaurant and Clapham takeaway, visit Eco Restaurants, Clapham.

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