Some freezer section standbys come and go, while some become icons. Mandatory Milwaukee is all about the latter. This week: frozen pizzas!
Wisconsin loves its frozen pizzas. Even though this prepackaged and freezer-safe rendition of one of North America’s consensus favorite foods is sold and consumed all over the country, our fair state apparently holds the distinction of being “The Frozen Pizza Capital Of The World.” This lofty claim—which the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers minor league baseball team are capitalizing on this coming season—is authenticated in a few ways that just so happen to follow every stage of a frozen pizza’s existence.
Wisconsin produces more frozen pizza than anywhere else on the planet. Of course, people in and around Milwaukee know that Palermo’s and its rapidly growing Screamin’ Sicilian brand are both made locally. The state is also home to numerous other frozen pizza purveyors, including five of the nation’s top brands in the sector that both originated and are still headquartered within our borders. Yes, long-tenured budget classics like Tombstone, Jack’s, Roma, Totino’s, and Orv’s each have roots in Wisconsin. Celebrated ice chest occupants like Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza, Emil’s, Luige’s, and Village Pub are also produced locally. DiGiornio started in Wisconsin and continues to be made in the state (and Illinois).
Not only does Wisconsin make more frozen pizza than anyone else, we collectively do our part to eat more of it per capita than anywhere else in the country and, by extension, in the entire known universe. It’s like learning Wisconsinites drink more brandy than anyone else, except like twice as surprising and five times more impressive.
Finally, let’s take a look at where we Wisconsinites procure a planet-topping amount of this product that we also happen to produce more of than anyone else. Most of us probably take it for granted, but the frozen pizza selection that’s routinely stocked at grocery stores throughout the state is nothing short of staggering.
And with respect to other regional and national grocers out there, we honestly can’t think of another store that comes anywhere close to holding a candle to the frozen pizza section at Woodman’s.
A few years ago, a video documenting the astounding assortment of frozen ‘za at the employee-owned Wisconsin grocery store chain went viral and even attracted attention from TODAY in the process. It seemed never-ending. Recently, we found ourselves at the Oak Creek Woodman’s and we were reminded of that video when we tried to traverse the frozen pizza section. We’ll spare you from the similar video we shot at Woodman’s, but let’s just say they’re very comparable.
By our count, there were four long, sprawling freezer cases that were completely filled with pizza. Beyond that, there were end caps brimming with ’em. Conservatively, there was more than a football field’s length of coolers crammed full of frozen pizzas of all shapes, size, style, and area of origin.
While expected brands like Tombstone and Jack’s are well represented, as well as some of our personal freezer fixtures like Village Pub and Connie’s, the Milwaukee-area mecca of pre-fab pizza also has a vast variety of gluten free options.
And freezer-safe renditions of Chicago and Detroit style pizza.
Along with breakfast pizza and personal pizza.
As well as weird shit like Pizza Cupcakes.
Pizza Bowls.
Pizza Rolls.
Hell, there’s even a bunch of pizza sauces and crust mixes for those who wish to delve into the world of homemade pizza.
From production to purchase to consumption, frozen pizzas—a versatile, affordable, and easily-prepared food we can all get behind—have a special place in the collective hearts and freezers of Wisconsinites. Next time you’re heating one up after a long day or following a fun night out, know that you’re likely supporting local workers, assisting area grocers, and helping to keep Wisconsin’s title as “The Frozen Pizza Capital Of The World.” There are far worse (and significantly less tasty) things a state can be known for.
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