This pricing trend analysis explores Build-Your-Own (BYO) pizza price movements across five U.S. states—Kansas (KS), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), South Dakota (SD), and Wisconsin (WI)—from February 2024 to February 2025. By tracking monthly changes in pricing for Small, Medium, and Large BYO pizzas, this report uncovers how regional markets responded to inflation, competition, and shifting consumer behavior. It highlights both absolute and percentage changes, along with key pricing dynamics at state and size level.
Small BYO Pizza: A Competitive Low-Cost Battleground
Across all states, Small BYO pizzas experienced moderate but consistent price increases, with notable differences in base prices and end-of-year trends.
Kansas saw the highest absolute and percentage growth in this category. Prices rose from $10.50 in Feb 2024 to $11.10 by Feb 2025, marking a $0.60 increase (+5.7%). Kansas maintained its leadership in premium pricing, possibly reflecting high input costs or less price-sensitive consumers.
Ohio, the most cost-effective state for Small BYOs, showed a gentler climb. Prices rose from $9.31 to $9.74, an increase of $0.43, or +4.6%. This steadiness suggests competitive pressure or pricing restraint due to customer price sensitivity.
North Dakota experienced a solid uptick from $10.03 to $10.78, an increase of $0.75 (+7.5%), while South Dakota moved from $9.93 to $10.78, also gaining $0.85 (+8.6%), the highest percentage jump in this tier.
Wisconsin rose from $10.12 to $10.80, climbing by $0.68 (+6.7%), maintaining a middle-ground position.
Despite seasonal dips in September and October, most states recovered into the holiday period and peaked in January or February, suggesting increased demand and potential promotional pullbacks during those months.
Medium BYO Pizza: The Most Volatile Segment
The Medium pizza category saw the most volatility, with larger price swings and sharper quarterly differences, possibly due to higher ingredient usage and mid-tier popularity.
Kansas recorded the sharpest increase $11.87 to $13.01, a $1.14 rise (+9.6%). This mirrors its strategy in the Small category: consistent, upward momentum with minimal seasonal deviation.
North Dakota grew from $12.04 to $12.67, an increase of $0.63 (+5.2%), displaying steady month-to-month movements with minimal disruption.
Ohio climbed from $11.73 to $12.41, adding $0.68 (+5.8%), reflecting a modest but regular pricing progression. Pricing remained lower than most states but followed a similar seasonal curve.
South Dakota, which had started at $11.68, ended at $12.55, seeing an $0.87 increase (+7.4%). Prices dipped in mid-2024 before rebounding sharply in Q4.
Wisconsin increased from $11.95 to $12.73, adding $0.78 (+6.5%), tracking a pattern similar to South Dakota with minor summer softness and winter peaks.
Q2 and Q3 2024 featured flat or declining prices in several states, possibly tied to off-peak demand or promotional pricing. However, strong Q4 increases across the board suggest cost pass-throughs or strategic year-end markups.
Large BYO Pizza: Inflation Reflected at Scale
The Large pizza category reflected macroeconomic trends most clearly, with the highest dollar-value increases and broad convergence in end-of-year pricing.
Kansas, once again, recorded the highest absolute increase from $14.20 to $15.25, a jump of $1.05 (+7.4%), showing consistent premium positioning across sizes.
North Dakota grew from $14.35 to $15.09, gaining $0.74 (+5.2%), while South Dakota followed closely with an increase from $14.29 to $15.03, or $0.74 (+5.2%).
Ohio remained the most affordable but still saw prices rise from $14.35 to $14.91, an increase of $0.56 (+3.9%) the smallest percentage change among the states.
Wisconsin climbed from $14.43 to $15.17, a $0.74 gain (+5.1%), aligning with its consistent mid-tier strategy.
While early months saw marginal price growth, the most notable spikes appeared in Q4 2024 and into Q1 2025. This aligns with broader inflationary signals likely due to rising commodity prices, labor costs, and a return to full demand during the winter holidays.
Key Takeaways: 12-Month Summary of Trends and Strategic Pricing Insights
1. Kansas Leads in Pricing Power
Kansas maintained the highest BYO pizza prices in all three size categories and posted the largest annual increases. Its consistent upward trajectory suggests a market less sensitive to price fluctuations possibly due to strong brand positioning or higher operating costs.
2. Ohio as the Price Anchor
Ohio remained the most affordable state for all BYO sizes, with the lowest percentage increases, particularly in the Large category. This implies a deliberate pricing strategy focused on retention and market share amid potential economic pressures.
3. South Dakota Shows Aggressive Q4 Recovery
Despite mid-year dips, South Dakota closed the year with strong gains especially in the Medium category. Its pricing volatility may indicate opportunistic promotional strategies or a reaction to regional demand surges.
4. Convergence at the Top
By February 2025, price gaps across all states had narrowed, particularly in the Medium and Large sizes. This could suggest increasing standardization in pricing or uniform cost pressures being passed to consumers nationwide.
5. Seasonal Pricing and Inflation Signals
The data reveal clear seasonal behaviors. Summer dips in some states gave way to winter peaks, likely influenced by demand cycles and cost inflation. The Q4 surge across all states and sizes reflects broader macroeconomic conditions impacting food service margins.
Final Thoughts
This year-long pricing analysis of BYO pizzas across the Midwest region offers not just numerical changes but deeper insight into how brands and markets respond to cost pressures, consumer expectations, and regional competition. With inflation and supply chain variables continuing to evolve in 2025, accurate pricing strategy will remain critical for pizza brands seeking both growth and resilience.