Any way you slice it, pizza is as American as apple pie. But just because pizza is one of the country’s most popular menu items doesn’t mean that it is above refreshing. With one simple step, adding Boursin cheese – ranked the top gourmet cheese by Nielsen AOD – to this staple, restaurants can elevate the pizza experience. 

Here, we examine how restaurants can capitalize on consumers’ growing appetite for upscale pies that boost the bottom line in an economical way.

A new taste

Customers are thinking out-of-the-box with their pizza toppings. Yet you don’t need to head to a pizzerie to find a specialty pie. With smart stocking, fast-casual restaurants can capitalize on this trend to upsell a fan favorite with little increase to their overhead costs. Enter Boursin cheese: the not-so-secret ingredient for taking any pizza to a new level.

Boursin is not meant to replace classic mozzarella. A creamy, crumbly ingredient that features fresh herbs and multiple flavors, Boursin Cheese shines as a topping that enriches traditional pizza taste. It joins a growing list of premium ingredients restaurants are providing to match a growing demand for going beyond the traditional Margarita pizza.

“Boursin added on top of a pizza adds a huge boost of flavor,” says David Weidenaar, Director of Culinary Innovation for Creative Food Solutions. “In similar ways to having chunks of goat cheese or ricotta on a pizza, Boursin delivers that creamy cheese note that you don’t get from mozzarella or pizza cheese. 

One key differentiator between Boursin Cheese and other high-end toppings – from specialty sauces and crusts to leafy greens and cultural favorites – is its affordability to stock. It takes just two pre-measured 3-gram cubes to deliver a gourmet take on a pizza slice.

As a widely recognizable brand, Boursin adds a certain distinction that can and has been monetized by restaurants already through limited-time offers. A study from Technomic found that mentioning Boursin on the menu can command a 19% price increase for specialty pizza that consumers are willing to pay. This reflects a larger trend of consumers showing a willingness to pay more for trusted brands.

“If [consumers] tried a pizza with Boursin, they would be willing to pay for it,” Weidenaar predicts.

Adding Boursin to menus naturally lends itself to marketing campaigns drawing attention to the new product and establishment serving it. Share the news on email or over social media – making sure to identify trusted influencers – to create a sense of excitement over the offering. Build loyalty with customers willing to pay more by adding rewards programs to promote return visits.

Wide appeal

Love of pizza knows no bounds. It is not generational or trendy. Pizza is a mainstay among diners. As a result, restaurants and dining facilities of all kinds can become part of the movement toward gourmet toppings. Examples where Boursin Cheese can be a popular topping include:

• National and local pizza chains;

• Fast-casual restaurants already accustomed to offering a wide variety of items;

• Colleges and universities serving the next generation of diners;

• Senior care and assisted-living facilities for those who still love a good surprise.

• New York Style, Detroit Style, Classics & Specialties, Any Pizza, Anywhere!

Providing a specialty pizza builds a customer base seeking an experience they can’t find elsewhere. These customers demonstrate a willingness to pay more than a traditional menu item, making them valuable to a restaurant’s bottom line.

Versatility of the enhanced flavors opens the possibility for exclusive offers like breakfast and/or pizzas available only at certain hours or days – or seasonal specials.

“There is just something about Boursin cheese around the holidays. It’s a staple of the season on so many family tables. So we thought to ourselves, how do we take that feeling and that flavor and put it on a pizza?” said Rebecca Kroupa, Director of Research & Development and Operations Training at Sarpino’s USA, a pizza chain with locations in nine states. “Boursin is made from simple ingredients with no preservatives or unnatural additives. And its creamy yet crumbly texture, and nice balance of garlic and herbs, takes pizza to a new level.”

Big benefits

Among the advantages Boursin has is its ease of use and affordability. Cheese cubes can be placed upon pizza defrosted or frozen and still deliver an infusion of flavor. Preportioned servings take the guesswork out for cooks and chefs at the back of the house, thus speeding service to customers and ensuring consistency of quality. 

Boursin is also a useful ally in combating food waste, a challenge for all food establishments. The small amounts needed to augment a pizza cuts down on excess and Boursin’s year-long shelf life takes the risk of spoiling.

Such sustainable measures are not only good for business but will also attract clientele who share eco-friendly values.

Boursin could be the missing ingredient to a restaurant’s ability to upsell a favorite dish and build a loyal customer base willing to pay higher costs. Pizza, Weidenaar notes, is what you make of it.  “Pizza can be whatever it needs to be in a situation,” he says. “Had a good day, celebrate with pizza. Had a bad day, forget about it with some pizza.”

To learn more about Boursin Frozen Cubes for restaurants visit Bel Foodservice.