PizzaExpress has launched its own DIY pizza delivery kits after lockdown forced it to close its restaurants – but only Margherita and American Hot are on the menu.
The restaurant chain shut hundreds of branches when England was plunged into its third Covid-19 lockdown this week, with all bars, eateries and non-essential shops closed.
Though restaurants can still offer delivery food to hungry customers, PizzaExpress has now opted to follow in the footsteps of Pizza Pilgrims and Franco Manca to offer do-it-yourself meal kits.
The delivery boxes, which are available from January 11, provide customers with all the ingredients necessary to prepare two of the pizzeria’s best-selling recipes at home: the Margherita and American Hot.
PizzaExpress has opted to follow in the footsteps of Pizza Pilgrims and Franco Manca to offer do-it-yourself meal kits. Pictured: An American Hot meal kit
Pictured: How customers can use the American Hot kit to create their own PizzaExpress favourite at home
But for those who can’t decide between the two meals, PizzaExpress will also offer a kit with the ingredients for one of each pizza.
Each box makes two 14-inch Romana pizzas, and includes the dough, a PizzaExpress passata tin, mozzarella and a blend of herbs and spices.
The American Hot kit also includes pepperoni and green Roquito peppers.
The kits are cheaper than ordering for delivery from PizzaExpress, with two Margheritas priced at £14 compared with £8.95 each.
Those opting for the American Hot will pay £16 for two pizzas instead of £11.55 for a cooked meal.
The restaurant chain also sells a large range of pre-prepared cook-at-home items in supermarkets across the UK, which are priced between £4.50 and £5 for a single pizza.
Each of the new delivery boxes will come equipped with a branded pizza cutter, while stocks last.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director at PizzaExpress, said: ‘We are delighted to be launching these brand-new kits, giving our loyal customers the chance to recreate two of our most popular recipes whilst we’re all at home.
The delivery boxes, which are available from January 11, provide customers with all the ingredients necessary to prepare two of the pizzeria’s best-selling recipes at home: the Margherita and American Hot. Pictured: An American Hot meal kit
The American Hot kit also includes pepperoni and green Roquito peppers. Pictured: The finished restaurant pizza
Each of the delivery boxes will also come equipped with a branded pizza cutter, while stocks last. Pictured: A PizzaExpress Margherita
‘Since launching our Homemade Favourites series last year, it has been wonderful to see so many people recreate their favourite recipes, in the restaurant style that they know and love.
‘With these kits we aim to make that even easier, particularly by providing our delicious dough, which has been perfected over 56 years!
‘We’ll be delivering the very same ingredients we use in our pizzerias so that the PizzaExpress experience can still be enjoyed wherever you are.’
Last year, PizzaExpress launched the Homemade Favourites series, in which the chain shared the recipes of some of their most beloved menu items.
This included instructions for their popular Carbonara pizza, which includes an egg on top, and the Pollo Pesto pasta.
Last year, PizzaExpress launched the Homemade Favourites series, in which the chain shared the recipes of some of their most beloved menu items
They shared the method for their Margherita pizza, which takes 40 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook from scratch. Pictured: The Hawaiian pizza
The restaurant chain also sells a large range of pre-prepared cook-at-home items (pictured) in supermarkets across the UK, which are priced between £4.50 and £5 for a single pizza
They also shared the method for their Margherita pizza, which takes 40 minutes to prepare and around 10 minutes to cook from scratch.
Meal kits have become popular with brands throughout the coronavirus pandemic, with restaurants offering customers the chance to cook their favourite meals at home.
Alongside PizzaExpress, chains including TGI Friday, Burger and Lobster and MEATliquor also sell DIY cooking boxes through website GreatFood2U.
Giraffe also has make-it-yourself offerings, including a chicken katsu curry for four, while Ed’s Easy Diner sells hot dog, burger and chicken wing kits.