---
title: "Why some pizza chains are struggling"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4ec2c068-fc2f-406d-a374-4ee645ec74f3
source: "Restaurant Business"
original_url: https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/why-some-pizza-chains-are-struggling
category: "Pizza"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Pizza"
published: 2026-04-17T17:56:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:44:12.775Z
image: https://cdn.informaconnect.com/platform/files/public/2026-04/background/TWIR%204-17-26.png?VersionId=EAf7hxVu8B8fkyAf1wysUkciJpfNYFFA
---

# Why some pizza chains are struggling

**TL;DR:** Some pizza chains, including Pizza Hut and Papa Johns, are struggling with potential sales, while others like Jersey Mike's are performing well. The Restaurant Business podcast discusses these chains and others, such as Starbucks and Little Caesars, and their use of AI and menu pricing strategies.

*originally published in Restaurant Business on 2026-04-17. [Read the original](https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/why-some-pizza-chains-are-struggling).*

## Story

Why are pizza chains having problems?

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the potential sales of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns, and what it means about both chains and the sector at large.

We also look at Starbucks and Little Caesars, both of which announced ChatGPT apps last week that could get AI more involved in the actual ordering decisions.

Jersey Mike’s had another good year in 2025 and we talk about what that means about its potential IPO.

This week’s Technomic Talks segment features Senior Principal Rich Shank, who talks about menu prices and whether the economy is driving them up this year.

On Tech Check, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks Toast and the drive-thru.

*Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.*

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- menu pricing (topic)
- Starbucks (company)
- Restaurant Business (publication)
- Pizza Hut (company)
- Papa Johns (company)
- Jersey Mike's (company)
- Little Caesar's (company)
- Toast (company)
- ai integration (topic)
- Joe Guszkowski (person)
- pizza chains (topic)

---
Originally reported by Restaurant Business (https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/why-some-pizza-chains-are-struggling). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4ec2c068-fc2f-406d-a374-4ee645ec74f3).