In a post-TRAIN law economy, a P249 12-inch pepperoni pizza seems too good to be true. So, when  pizza chain Little Caesars Pizza announced its comeback—with affordable pepperoni as one of its major selling points—a lot of people were skeptical about the quality of the food.

 

But price is not directly proportional to taste. Last Jan. 26, Little Caesars reopened its doors in Manila to serve its famous HOT-N-READY pizzas. The classic Pepperoni is served fresh from the oven oozing Muenster cheese and fresh, never frozen, mozzarella cheese. The dough is made daily in the kitchen and is topped with sauce from California vine-ripened crushed tomatoes. The crust is perfectly baked, with just the right crisp.

 

Single-serve pizzas like Pepperoni and Cheese can be had at P130, while Hula Hawaiian and Veggie are both at P190. The best-selling Crazy Bread, four pieces of garlic parmesan breadsticks with a tomato-based dip, is at P80. The four-piece Caesar Wings is at P220.

 

Other large specialty pizzas are Hula Hawaiian, Veggie, 3 Meat Treat and Ultimate Supreme, each costs P370. The Family Combo has two large pizzas (choice between Pepperoni or Cheese), eight pieces of Caesar Wings and Crazy Bread and 1.5-liter bottle of Pepsi, and costs P1150.

 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise as the pizza chain that started as a family-owned store in Michigan 60 years ago has been on the top spot for “highest rated chain value for the money” (2007-2017), according to a US survey of quick-service restaurants conducted by Sandelman & Associates.

 

“Our founders are very committed to make sure you were able to feed a family of four,” said Paula Vissing, senior vice president of Little Caesars Pizza.

 

 

Outside Little Caesars’ new location in Metrosquare Building, United Nations Avenue corner Alhambra Street, Ermita, Manila, children and their parents lined up to get a free slice of pepperoni pizza. The orange-garbed mascot with laurels behind his ears and a pizza pierced on its spear delighted the audience. Kids from the ’90s would remember this guy with the catchphrase “Pizza! Pizza!”

 

A lot of Michelin-starred restaurants have arrived in the country the past few years and plenty more popular fast-food joints will make its way this 2019, but Little Caesars banked on the nostalgia that “Pizza! Pizza!” brings.

 

Vissing said that since they announced Little Caesars’ reopening in Manila, a lot of Filipinos online are talking about their happy memories in the pizza chain. Eating pizza is a “shareable experience,” she added, and Filipinos love to go out and eat with the whole family.

 

It was a difficult decision for Little Caesars to close store in the Philippines in early 2000s, said Vissing, but they found a new local partner with Palmtree PH Foods Corp.

 

Once Little Caesars settles in, Vissing said the local team will develop specialty pizza for the Filipino palette. “We want to be a part of people’s families and so we want to know the flavors and their taste profiles,” she said.

 

Little Caesars also opened its first branch in Singapore last Jan. 24. Vissing added they are focused on opening more branches around Metro Manila this year. She assured Super: “we’re definitely here to stay and we’re not going anywhere.”