Commercial Pizza Supplies Basics

Finding all the equipment you need to start your own commercial pizza business
By Kristina Seleshanko In the United States, we eat 90 acres of pizza a day. That's a whole lot of opportunity for a pizza-oriented business person! So if you're ready to take a slice of the pie, one of your main considerations is commercial pizza supplies basics: What equipment will your pizzeria need?

Whether you purchase a pizza franchise or develop your own unique pizzeria, the equipment you need will essentially be the same as any other pizza business requires. That pizza business equipment falls into three basic categories:

1. At least one industrial pizza oven,

2. Other large pizzeria supplies, like prep tables and dough presses,

3. And smaller commercial pizza supplies, like pans and cutters.

Research industrial pizza ovens

A large portion of your wholesale pizza supplies budget will be eaten up by one or more commercial pizza ovens. Carefully research your options, then purchase the highest quality, fastest oven you can afford. Although it will cost more initially, it will save you a great deal of time--and therefore money--in the long run.
Try:  BerkelBiz.com offers several commercial pizza ovens, including a brick oven touted as "faster and more cost effective than any other industrial oven," baking pizzas in 60 to 90 seconds. Northern Pizza Equipment also sells a variety of quality conveyor ovens.

Find other large pieces of commercial pizza equipment

After you have an oven in mind, look at other large pieces of equipment you'll be needing. Consider buying at least some of these used. This will save your business about 50 percent in equipment costs.
Try:  Pizza Equipment World sells a variety of larger items, including dough sheeters, prep tables, heated holding cabinets, dough presses, dispensing cabinets and more; for more information, click on the photo of the sort of equipment you're interested in. CPAPC Restaurant Design & Supply carries some large equipment (like prep tables and mixers.

Purchase smaller pizza supply items

Pizza businesses require many small pizza supplies, including pizza pans and trays, cutters, scales and possibly delivery items, like bags and boxes. It's a good idea to find a single source for purchasing smaller pizza supplies wholesale to save time and shipping costs.
Try:  Big Tray has a great selection of smaller pizza supplies, including cutters, pans, delivery boxes, racks and screens. KegWorks.com sells scales, dough dockers, dough scrapers, trays and more.

• One option for reducing the cost of pizza business supplies is to lease large pieces of equipment--especially your oven. This may also be a good way for you to discover which type of commercial pizza works best for your business.