This insightful article was inspired by content originally published on Davidson County Source by Michael Carpenter
Discover how Papa Murphy’s Summer Selects delivers hot seasonal deals, fresh flavors, and trends that pizza lovers, suppliers, and shop owners can’t ignore.
Papa Murphy’s has turned up the heat for summer 2025 with its “Summer Selects” promotion: oven‑ready Thin or Original crust Cheese, Pepperoni, Veggie, or Meat pizzas for just $8.99 in most markets (with slight regional pricing variations). Backed by a national “Seize a Slice of Summer” sweepstakes in partnership with Pepsi, this campaign includes daily prizes and reinforces Papa Murphy’s summer branding.
What does this mean for our pizza-centric audiences? We draw core lessons, unique angles, and strategic data from the promotion and serve it through a lens that delivers home‑pizza value, supplier opportunity, and shop‑owner strategy.
For Pizza Enthusiasts: Affordable, Flavorful & Fun at Home
Summer Selects Meets DIY Pizza Passion
Papa Murphy’s Summer Selects meet at-home demand for no-prep, high-value pizza nights a winning formula during busy summer schedules or backyard gatherings. For enthusiasts, this serves as inspiration:
- Explore pizza dough recipe techniques that mimic that easy-bake convenience but dial in flavor with time-tested cold fermentation.
- Pair Summer Selects creativity with your own pizza making tools like peel, peel rack, and temperature-tested pizza stone.
Pizza Pro Tip: Invest in the Best Pizza Stone for Crispy Crusts it bridges the gap between take‑n‑bake ease and wood‑oven crunch at home.
Ingredient Stories & Pizza History Facts
The Summer Selects menu includes classic pies with real ingredients whole‑milk mozzarella, cheddar, and a blend of veggies (spinach, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes) on creamy garlic sauce for the Veggie option. Here’s where enthusiasts can geek out:
- Learn how artisanal pizza ingredients, like locally milled flour and high-moisture mozzarella, elevate flavor profiles.
- Celebrate pizza history facts: the rise of garlic sauce veggie pies in the U.S., or how cheddar‑mozzarella blends became mainstream in chain pizza.
For Pizza Suppliers: Unlock Bulk Opportunities & Menu Expansion
High-Volume Ingredient Demand
With Summer Selects running through August 24, 2025 and cornering value-minded consumers, suppliers can anticipate surging demand for:
- bulk pizza ingredients: whole‑milk mozzarella, cheddar, pre‑blended sauces, frozen prepped veggies (spinach, mushrooms).
- Packaging optimized for take-and-bake distribution.
Supplier Insight: Develop offerings for sustainable pizza sourcing—eco‑friendly packaging or locally sourced cheeses to support brand value narratives.
Equipment & Technology Edge
Papa Murphy’s model requires efficient volume handling: small-format stores delivering high throughput with minimal prep.
- Offer commercial pizza equipment like dough sheeters, portioning tools, and cold-holding cases.
- Pitch food service technology pizza solutions inventory tracking, automated ordering replenishment, and seasonal promotion support systems.
For Pizza Shop Owners: Strategy, Marketing & Operational Efficiency
Leverage Promotional Psychology
Papa Murphy’s combined value deal with an engaging sweepstakes (“Seize a Slice of Summer”) drives both purchases and social engagement. Shop owners can replicate this:
- Run promotions paired with local giveaways partner with community brands or social media contests titled “Summer Slice Sweepstakes.”
- Celebrate pizza‑shop marketing strategies with seasonal upsells: pair deals, freebies for loyalty members, or branded photo props.
Optimize Operations for Value Menus
Summer Selects relies on straightforward menu execution: four pies, predictable ingredients, consistent quality.
- Use standardized SOPs for dough stretching, toppings portioning, bake timing, and delivery packaging.
- Employ an integrated pizza POS system to handle order bundling, manage upsells (sides & desserts), and segment customers for loyalty programs.
Streamline Upsell and Add-On Strategy
Papa Murphy’s complements Summer Selects pizzas with a range of ready-to-bake sides and desserts (5‑Cheese Bread, Garlic Knots, Cinnamon Wheel, salads, cookie dough).
Actionable Tip: Bundling pizza with one side or dessert at a slight price point lift can increase average check. Introduce a Mix ‘n’ Match side add-on with flexible customer-facing pricing.
Hypothetical Interview with a “Pizza Expert”
To deepen insight, we imagine talking with Chef / Pizza Consultant Maria Romano, who advises restaurant owners nationwide:
“A focused, limited-time menu like four reliable styles priced attractively does wonders for consistency and training. Staff learn the execution fast, and inventory is streamlined. Promotions like ‘Summer Selects’ keep customers coming back for perceived value.”
Pizza Pro Tip from Maria:
- Rotate one rotating specialty pie each week within a value menu to test new toppings (e.g., plant-based cheese, grain bowls).
- Use feedback loops QR code surveys or loyalty app ratings to assess which variant performs best.
She continues:
“Integrating pizza delivery software that ties to your POS, offering curbside pickup, and encouraging mobile ordering all synergize around value offerings. Papa Murphy’s take‑n‑bake system validates that convenience sells.”
Industry Trends Reflected in Summer Selects
Value Pizza Demand Remains Strong
As consumers continue prioritizing budget-friendly yet flavorful meals, offers under $10 remain compelling. Chain and independent pizzerias should note:
- Value deals can drive foot traffic and encourage upsell of premium add‑ons or sides.
- Emphasize restaurant operational efficiency to maintain margins: quick assembly, minimal ingredient costs, and predictable bake cycles.
Growing Interest in Plant‑Based & Local Options
Papa Murphy’s still focuses on traditional cheese and meat pies but savvy shops and suppliers are capitalizing on the rise of plant-based pizzas, vegan cheese alternatives, and locally sourced vegetables and flour.
- Introduce a vegan Summer Selects variant with quality almond-cheese or cashew‑based mozzarella.
- Source organic spinach, mushrooms, and tomato toppings from local growers then highlight sustainable pizza sourcing on menus.
Automation & Analytics Are Key
Papa Murphy’s corporate model supports consistent rollout across 1,000+ locations through uniform messaging and supply chain. Independent shops can learn:
- Invest in food service technology pizza systems that forecast demand, manage seasonal inventory, and trigger reorders automatically.
- Analyze Summer Selects-type promotion data: which day of week sells most, which crust sells better, add-on take rates, etc., to refine future limited‑time offers.
Final Slice: Why “Summer Selects” Offers Broader Lessons
Papa Murphy’s Summer Selects, launched in May 2025, offers four streamlined pizza options priced at $8.99 (with regional pricing at $9.99 or $10.99), and runs through August 24, 2025 Pizza Marketplace. Paired with a Pepsi-powered sweepstakes, this campaign delivers both value and engagement.
For pizza enthusiasts, it’s a lesson in simplicity meeting taste; for suppliers, it’s a spark for bulk ingredient and equipment demand; for shop owners, it’s a blueprint for seasonal promotion, marketing strategy, and operational excellence.
As the pizza landscape in 2025 trends toward convenience, affordable indulgence, and smart tech integration, Summer Selects offers a clear playbook: deliver real flavor, real deals, with real efficiency. It’s a summer menu but its lessons can guide year‑round success.
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