Nearly everyone has a favorite local pizza shop – the kind of place that knows your order, your family, and your neighborhood. Whether in New York City, Seattle, or anywhere in between, independent pizzerias are more than restaurants; they’re community institutions.
But these small shops have long faced an uphill battle when competing with national chains. Big brands have access to bigger budgets, more marketing muscle, and sophisticated technology – advantages that independent operators often can’t match.
That imbalance is exactly why Slice was created.
Slice is a technology platform built specifically for independent pizzerias, supporting more than 15,000 local pizza shops nationwide, giving them tools for ordering, marketing, and operations that help them compete with major chains.
On the advertising side, Universal Ads has a similar mission: to make premium TV advertising accessible to businesses of all sizes. Historically, TV has been dominated by national advertisers with significant budgets and teams. Universal Ads changes that by simplifying the buying process and making it as easy as running a campaign on search or social media.
Together, Slice and Universal Ads share a common ethos: give small businesses the tools once reserved for the big guys.
Out of this shared mission came a natural partnership aimed at unlocking one of the most influential advertising channels, premium, brand-safe TV environments for independent pizzerias.
Through this collaboration, Slice enabled thousands of local pizza businesses to appear on TV for the very first time. Universal Ads made it seamless by centralizing campaign buying, creative, and measurement, while still delivering performance at the individual store level.
Local pizza shops were able to advertise with the polish and reach of a national brand, without the cost or complexity.
The partnership not only got local shops on the big screen but also drove real results that improved the bottom line.
When Slice pizzerias ran geo-targeted TV ads through Universal Ads in the zip codes they serve, they saw:
For many of these independent operators, it was the first time they’d ever appeared on television - and the results showed exactly how powerful TV can be when made accessible, flexible, and performance-driven.
What was once out of reach for most local businesses –premium TV advertising – is now both accessible and impactful. By pairing Slice’s deep connection to local pizzerias with Universal Ads’ simple, scalable technology, the partnership is leveling the playing field in meaningful ways.
Independent pizzerias now have an advertising channel long dominated by national chains, and they’re seeing firsthand how it can drive stronger sales, more orders, and long‑term growth.
To learn more about what TV can do for your business, visit here.
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