Coronavirus: Shortage of pepperoni affecting smaller pizza parlors

While the price of ground beef has spiked and appeared to be easing, the price for pepperoni remains high, Bloomberg reported. Brandon King, owner of R-Pizza in South Dakota, said he had to change pepperoni brands for the first time in nine years.

Demand for pepperoni is up, Bloomberg said, as pizza restaurants have remained popular throughout the pandemic. Hyland said that while pepperoni prices are increasing, shop owners are resisting the urge to increase pizza prices.

“It’s an American right to have pepperoni on pizza,” Hyland said. “Pepperoni is such a huge part of pizza it’s important to us that we keep it accessible.”