Not selling individual pizza slices in Papa John’s is a mistake

Students need to stay fed to stay sharp, and while pizza isn’t the healthiest option, taking away individual pizza slices from the Papa John’s menu also removes one of the quickest, cheapest options on campus. 

Up until last year, Papa John’s had cheese and pepperoni individual pizza slices constantly warm and ready for anyone to come in, order one, and leave within minutes. Now, students have to wait longer and pay more for a similar meal — either a personal pizza or the entire pie.  

The convenience of already-baked pizza slices cannot be overstated. Dining Services’ page on SVSU’s website even promotes Papa John’s as “a quick and easy place to get pizza and breadsticks every day of the week!” Now, how convenient is it, really? Their change to the menu is a direct opposition to their mission statement. 

After The Pod closes, Papa John’s and the C-Store are the only food sources on the West side of campus, not including the FOC. So now, students either need to wait 10 minutes for a personal pizza to bake or settle for a granola bar or a frozen boxed lunch from the C-Store. The middle ground is no longer an option. 

This change has impacts behind the counter as well: employees used to serve multiple customers quickly and efficiently by boxing up a slice and handing it over without the need to write down an entire order and alert the kitchen. Now, those steps are necessary for each order, slowing down the line and possibly increasing frustration from customers. 

The price difference can’t be ignored, either. The direct substitute, a pepperoni personal pizza, starts at $8.99, and then it’s an additional $1.19 for every topping added. The exact original pricing of a Papa John’s slice is unclear, but it might be comparable to pizza slice sold at Jet’s Pizza on Bay Rd., which costs only $2.75. 

To put that into perspective even further, Jet’s Pizza has a current offer of two slices plus a 20 oz. Soda for $6.99. So, if you have a car, you’ll get a better deal five minutes down the road. 

Again, that better deal is only accessible to those who have a car. Students without a car need to be considered when it comes to the cost of food on campus. Hopefully, they have a meal plan with declining balance, but that only stretches so far. Are they going to bite the cost and buy a personal pizza, or opt for the cheaper option of breadsticks? This decision and lack of affordable, balanced options might impact their health over time. 

The price difference might be worth it, though — they’re getting more pizza with that extra dollar. You can put it in the fridge and even make two meals out of it. However, this only works if a student has access to a refrigerator, and commuters don’t always have that luxury. This increases food and money waste if smaller portions aren’t available for purchase and disproportionately affects commuters. 

Dining Services can address this issue either by reintroducing pizza slices or making another affordable option available like pre-made hot sandwiches. It doesn’t have to be much as long as it’s cheaper than a personal pizza and more nutritional than breadsticks. 

Your voice has power, and it might be worth using to get better results. If you want to see more convenient and affordable food options on campus, fill out this feedback form for Dining Services.  

Note: Dining Services were not available to comment on the topic before publication. The reason for removing the slices from the menu is unknown.