The Two Ends Of The Pizza Hut Spectrum; ‘Skinny Slice’ and Bacon-Stuffed Crust Pizza

Pizza Hut managed this week to hit both sides of the healthy eating spectrum; Skinny Slice and bacon-stuffed crust pizza.

According to Time, Pizza Hut has introduced a lower-calorie version of their pizza and are trying it out in Ohio and Florida. The Skinny Slice is a thinner crust pizza with less toppings on it, coming in at about 210 calories per slice. A non-skinny slice of Pizza Hut pizza ranges from 180 calories (12? medium Thin ‘N Crispy Veggie Lover’s) to 470 calories (14? large pan Meat Lover’s), according to Pizza Hut’s Nutrition Information.

Doug Terfehr, Public Relations director for Pizza Hut, told USA Today, “It may be attractive to a customer who might not be including pizza in their regular choice of meals. We’re always trying to find ways to appeal to a broader audience without taking away what our core audience loves about us.”

While making a low calorie pizza is a step towards healthier eating, one must remember that Pizza Hut doesn’t sell their pizza by the slice. Perhaps a more appropriate name would have been “Pounds-Off Pizza,” or “Pizza Lite.” And, while the pie is skinnier, the price is the same as with any full pizza, $11 each. Its most recent volley into the pizza wars, however, has to be considered a pretty heavy deal.

The Wire reports that recently, the bacon-stuffed crust pizza has just been released by Pizza Hut.

As you can see on the chart above, the bacon-stuffed crust pizza, though delectable, is loaded with calories. The new Skinny Slice pizza, even if it had five toppings, would stay under 300 calories a slice. A bacon-stuffed crust pizza with 5 toppings would be off the charts. Do remember, however, this is the company that stuffed chili cheese dogs into their crust. At that time, healthy eating was not part of the plan.

USA Today is reporting that these are the latest tactics in trying to win over the shrinking food dollar budget. With so many more choices, and restaurants such as Chipotle’s and Panera Bread, both more and more becoming restaurant goer’s “healthier” alternative. Pizza Hut has tried this before. In 2008, they introduced their Fit N’ Delicious pizza as a way to bring in health-minded folks. It wasn’t very successful, but it’s still on the menu in most Pizza Hut restaurants.

The Skinny Slice has no television support yet. Limited social media and word of mouth have carried the news the first time around. It remains to be seen if the pizza will actually help customers by eating less, or if the lowered calories will cause people to eat more Skinny Slices.