Getting noticed at the annual International Pizza Expo is no easy feat. Held for three days in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the massive event draws over 10,000 pizzeria owners, operators and chefs. Attendees experience cooking demonstrations and explore offerings from more than 1,000 suppliers showcasing their latest products. On top of that, there’s the Expo’s Pizza Olympics. If you’re going to compete for attention with chefs performing gravity-defying routines with spinning pizza dough (blindfolded, behind the back, through the legs!), you’d better have something unique to offer.
“The Pizza Expo is three days of high octane,” says Patty Riedl, director of marketing at Hormel Foods. “There are demonstrations and competitions but also a huge sense of community. Together we all believe that we can raise the bar for pizza together.”
Hormel Foods, with its FONTANINI® and ROSA GRANDE® brands, has a well-earned reputation for innovation that always brings a crowd to their booth. Two years ago, Hormel Foods rolled out FONTANINI® Cup & Char Sausage. Last year, during the event’s 40th anniversary, came the introduction of HORMEL® Ribbon Pepperoni. This year, Hormel Foods will unveil its latest innovation — FONTANINI® Hot Honey Sliced Sausage — to an industry hungry for the next big thing.
FONTANINI® Hot Honey Sliced Sausage
“When people see Hormel Foods at Pizza Expo, they expect us to bring it,” says Logan Kumm, associate Foodservice brand manager at Hormel Foods. “That’s exactly what we’re doing by introducing Hot Honey Sliced Sausage. We’ve been seeing a lot of interest from Gen Z and millennials who really like spicy flavors. And it’s been fun to see how restaurateurs have become really creative spicing up their pies. We’re here to prove that Hormel Foods has once again anticipated and addressed a market need.”
We’ve been a leader in the pizza industry for almost 50 years. That’s a lot longer than many companies have been around.
Dan Moore, Foodservice brand manager for Hormel Foods
During this post-war period, Hormel Foods played a crucial role in standardizing, perfecting and distributing this uniquely American product on a national scale. Through high-quality ingredients and traditional sausage-making techniques adapted for modern production, Hormel Foods helped transform pepperoni from a regional specialty to a nationwide staple.
“We’ve been a leader in the pizza industry for almost 50 years. That’s a lot longer than many companies have been around,” says Dan Moore, Foodservice brand manager for Hormel Foods. “We’ve taken a time-honored tradition and elevated it by using our culinary craftsmanship to create something new. Every single year, Hormel Foods has shown the ability to drive innovation.”
The company’s commitment to quality and consistency has made its pepperoni a favorite for both commercial pizzerias and retail stores nationwide. This dedication has paid off — today, pepperoni tops at least one-third of all pizzas made in America, with HORMEL® Pepperoni standing as America’s No. 1 selling pepperoni brand1. Four in five Americans say pepperoni goes with pizza like peanut butter goes with jelly — a perfect match that’s so iconic, it’s why the pizza emoji features pepperoni slices.2
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Crafted using only the best, highest-quality meat and spices, and an old-world dry-sausage making tradition. A pack of pre-sliced, ready-to-eat HORMEL® Pepperoni can create mouthwatering family meals both adults and kids love.
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HORMEL® Cup N’ Crisp Pepperoni slices are uniquely crafted to cup and crisp when cooked, bringing high-quality restaurant flavor to kitchen tables everywhere.
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Open a pouch of ready-to-eat HORMEL® Pepperoni Minis to perk up any sandwich, salad, pizza bagel, and more.
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HORMEL® Pepperoni Stix are individually-wrapped, family-friendly snacks for on -the-go.
We always keep in mind that pizza is the center of many joyful gatherings — whether that’s with family, with friends, socially, or with work … Pizza is the highlight of the day.
Patty Riedl, director of marketing at Hormel Foods
“With Ribbon Pepperoni, we exceeded our expectations for the first-year launch, and momentum is still growing,” Kumm said. “It has really found its niche in LTOs (Limited Time Offers), with one falling off as another picks up. What we’re seeing with some of our operators is that once it’s launched as an LTO, they want it as a permanent menu item because it’s adding profit and dollars to their bottom line.”
But the pace of innovation at Hormel Foods never slows. FONTANINI® Hot Honey Sliced Sausage captures one of the hottest trends in the pizza world — the irresistible combination of heat and sweetness that has made hot honey a sensation in pizzerias across the country.
“Hot honey is not a flash in the pan, that’s for sure. It’s definitely here to stay,” explained Riedl. “We’re really excited to bring the pizza community an opportunity to have hot honey on their pizza without the operational challenge of manually drizzling it. It’s an easy-to-use topping that ‘takes the heat somewhere sweet.’”
Showcasing Success at Pizza Expo
For Hormel Foods, Pizza Expo represents a significant opportunity to strengthen relationships with partners in the pizza industry. At last year’s Expo, Ribbon Pepperoni was the talk of the show, drawing in operators eager to see the latest in pizza innovation.
Hormel Foodservice Team at Pizza Expo 2025
“Seeing the evolution of the pizza community has given me a huge sense of pride working for the company,” Riedl said. “Pizza aficionados come over to our booth at Pizza Expo, and we can deliver something new and exciting every year.”
As pizza continues to evolve in America, with regional styles proliferating and new topping combinations emerging, Hormel Foods remains committed to being at the forefront of innovation while honoring the traditions that have made pizza a cornerstone of American cuisine.
“It’s such a rush of adrenaline and energy being at the Pizza Expo. We have great return customers visiting the booth, along with new ones we’re just getting to know,” Kumm said. “It’s so much fun to give out samples of something new and see their wheels turning, envisioning how they’ll use them on their menus.”
The company’s approach balances respect for pizza’s heritage with a forward-looking approach to consumer preferences and culinary trends. Innovation is central to the strategy, as Riedl emphasizes: “We will never have an innovation pipeline without a pizza topping. New ideas for pizza toppings are always a priority. That’s our commitment to the pizza culture and the pizza community.”
