Food & Beverage
'Eat 'em 'n' Reap,' says Romeo's new hot cheese
January 19, 2021
Romeo's Pizza, which has 46 locations, is working to burn its name into customers' minds by adding Carolina Reaper peppers to its latest cheese topping. The brand's Reaper cheese features the infamous Carolina Reaper peppers, along with it fiery pals, jalapeno and habanero peppers, blended with the more mellow Monterey Jack cheese, a news release said.
Carolina Reaper peppers — born in Rock Hill, South Carolina — have the distinction of being the world's hottest pepper.
"Consumer tastes are changing," Mike Rao, Romeo's Pizza chief strategy officer, said in the release. "They want more than just hot or mild, and want to pair heat with sweet. With Romeo's Signature Sweet Sauce — the Carolina Reaper was the perfect addition to meet consumer demand."
The sizzling-hot cheese topping was the result of work by Romeo's Menu Innovation Team, which was tasked with finding the right heat to accompany the brand's sweet sauce. Carolina Reaper cheese dominated the competition and can now be added to any Romeo's Pizza, as well as other products at the chain's restaurants, like cheesy breadsticks.
The innovation is part of the brand's 20th anniversary celebration, which will bring other new offerings to customers throughout 2021. The brand provided forewarning to those who order the Reaper-loaded renditions: Order a side of milk
Medina, Ohio-based Romeo's Pizza said it expects to launch 60 franchise locations by the end of 2021, with the goal of reaching 250 total locations in the next five years.
