This insightful article was inspired by content originally published on National Post
Introduction
When the National Post dropped its much-buzzed-about Best Pizza Awards, it did more than crown the kings of crust. It spotlighted how craftsmanship, local ingredients, and smart strategy can make a pizzeria truly world-class and showed exactly what every slice fanatic, supplier, or pizza shop owner can learn (and profit from).
Today, we’re pulling the oven door wide open on the best takeaways: how you can elevate your home pizza-making, how suppliers can fuel the next big pizza industry trends, and how shop owners can earn their own “Best Pizza” status no matter their size or style.
🍕 What Makes a Pizza Worthy of an Award?
Each champion on the Best Pizza Awards list excels at three things:
- Artisanal pizza ingredients sourced locally or thoughtfully.
- Signature crusts made with passion and the right gear.
- Community connection the story behind the pizza is as mouthwatering as the slice itself.
Chef Matteo Rossi an award-winning pizzaiolo from Toronto, hypothetically interviewed for Pizza Magazine sums it up best:
“Pizza is never just cheese and dough. It’s a story you can taste. When you combine craft with community, you’ve got a pie people will drive miles for.”
🍕 For Pizza Enthusiasts: Bring Home That Award-Winning Flavor
Forget bland freezer pies you deserve an award-worthy pizza in your own kitchen! Here’s how:
Get the Best Home Pizza Oven
Every top pizzeria relies on a blazing hot deck or wood-fired oven. Bring that fire home with the Ooni Karu Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven or go classic with the Best Pizza Stone for Crispy Crusts if you use your regular oven.
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Choose Premium Artisanal Pizza Ingredients
The award-winners stand out because they source local, seasonal, and high-quality toppings. For home pies:
- Stock San Marzano tomatoes
- Try heritage flours for dough: Type 00 or spelt blends
- Add bold accents: truffle oil, burrata, or house-made sausage
- Keyword: artisanal pizza ingredients
Nail Your Pizza Dough Recipe
A world-class pie starts with dough that sings. Use a pizza dough recipe with:
- High hydration (65–70%)
- 24- to 48-hour cold fermentation for deep flavor
- Olive oil finish for golden crust
Pizza Pro Tip: Award-winning pizzaiolos often use a sourdough starter for complexity. Experiment and taste the difference!
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Essential Pizza Making Tools
If your peel sticks or your toppings slide, you’re missing the right tools:
- Professional Pizza Peel
- Infrared thermometer gun to ensure your stone hits 500–700°F
- Dough Scraper Kit for easy balling
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🏭 For Pizza Suppliers
Award-winning pies raise the bar not just for diners, but for suppliers, too. Here’s how to feed the industry’s hunger for excellence.
Double Down on Sustainable Pizza Sourcing
Best-in-class pizzerias use hyper-local toppings even rooftop basil! Suppliers must offer:
- Regionally grown produce
- Heritage cheese and regenerative dairy
- Sustainably farmed flour
- Keyword: sustainable pizza sourcing
Smarter Commercial Pizza Equipment
Behind every award-winning crust is reliable gear:
- High-Volume Commercial Dough Mixer for consistency
- Space-saving deck ovens
- Blast chillers for par-baked products
Small artisan shops want tools that deliver craft quality at scale.
- Keyword: commercial pizza equipment
Level Up with Food Service Technology Pizza
Data drives modern pizzerias. Suppliers can help with:
- Predictive ingredient ordering to cut waste
- Loyalty program tools
- POS integrations that link delivery apps, dine-in, and catering
- Keyword: food service technology pizza
🏪 For Pizza Shop Owners
Dreaming of seeing your name on next year’s Best Pizza list? Here’s how to get there.
Shape Your Story: Pizza Shop Marketing Strategies
The winning shops stand out because their story is as good as their pizza. Use:
- Origin stories: Who started the shop and why?
- Local partnerships: Farm-to-pizza stories sell!
- Instagram Reels: Show dough tossing, oven fires, or staff in action.
- Keyword: pizza shop marketing strategies
Streamline Your Flow: Restaurant Operational Efficiency
Consistency is key. If one pie shines and the next disappoints, you’ll never make the list.
- Invest in an Integrated Pizza POS System to reduce order errors.
- Standardize your dough process with reliable mixers.
- Use Pizza Delivery Software that optimizes routes and delivery times.
- Keywords: pizza POS system, restaurant operational efficiency, pizza delivery software
Build Fans for Life: Customer Loyalty Pizza
The best shops don’t just get one-time visitors they earn regulars.
- Reward loyalty with exclusive “Pizza Club” perks.
- Create limited-edition pies using seasonal ingredients.
- Host “Meet the Maker” nights to connect chefs and customers.
- Keyword: customer loyalty pizza
📈 Bigger Trends: The Next Slice of the Pizza Industry
What’s next for pizza?
- The rise of plant-based pizzas with craft toppings.
- In-house flour milling for hyper-fresh dough.
- Smarter AI ordering tools for small shops.
As Chef Rossi says:
“We’re seeing a renaissance. People want the neighborhood pizzeria vibe but with the quality of the world’s best pies. The bar is high, but that’s what keeps pizza exciting!”
🍕 Your Takeaway: Be Award-Worthy, Slice After Slice
Whether you’re a home baker, a supplier, or a shop owner:
✅ Upgrade your gear start with a Best Home Pizza Oven.
✅ Source the finest artisanal pizza ingredients and try a new pizza dough recipe this weekend.
✅ If you’re in the business, refine your story, streamline your process with an Integrated Pizza POS System, and keep your community at the heart of every pie.
The Best Pizza Awards aren’t just about trophies they’re about setting a standard every pizza lover deserves.
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