The History, Growth & Future of Papa John's Pizza

The History of Papa John's Pizza

Papa John's is one of the most popular pizza chains in the United States. Founded in 1984 by John Schnatter, Papa John's has grown from a small pizzeria in Jeffersonville, Indiana to a nationwide chain with over 5,000 locations. Their delicious pizzas and commitment to quality ingredients have made them a household name.

The Early Days of Papa John's

John Schnatter started Papa John's Pizza in the broom closet of his father's tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He sold his prized 1972 Camaro to help purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment. Schnatter began selling pizzas to the tavern's customers out of the broom closet, quickly gaining a following for his fresh, high-quality pizzas.

The first official Papa John's opened in 1985 next to the tavern. Business boomed as word spread about the delicious pizzas. Schnatter's pizzas were so popular that within one year, he was able to move to a bigger space. He also began offering franchise opportunities.

Papa John's Commitment to Quality

From the beginning, Papa John's has been committed to making traditional, superior-quality pizzas. They use fresh, never frozen original dough, real mozzarella cheese, and sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes grown in California fields. Toppings are sliced fresh daily in every restaurant.

Papa John's takes extra steps to ensure consistency and quality across all locations. All stores use the same equipment and ingredients. Corporate employees make surprise visits to ensure stores are meeting cleanliness and quality standards.

New Products and Menu Innovation

While traditional and specialty pizzas remain the core of their menu, Papa John's frequently rolls out new products to give customers more variety.

Some popular menu innovations over the years include:

• Papa's Chicken Poppers - Crispy chicken breast pieces with creamy cheese and spicy jalapeño peppers.
• Papa Johns Fritos Chili Pizza - Topped with chili, Fritos corn chips and cheese.
• Garden Fresh Pizza - Loaded with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and tomatoes.
• The Meats Pizza - piled high with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, beef, and Canadian bacon.
• Extras - Papa John's offers extra pepperoncinis, cheese sticks, chicken poppers and chocolate chip cookies to complete the meal.

Papa John's frequently has new limited-time specialty pizzas to keep the menu exciting. They also continue to improve traditional pizzas, such as upgrading ingredients to create better flavor.

Papa John's Special Offers

From the beginning, Papa John's has run frequent special offers making their pizzas more affordable and providing great deals:

• Two medium one-topping pizzas for $6 each.
• $2 off any menu-priced pizza.
• 50% off all pizzas online.
• Free dessert or side with any regular-priced pizza.

Customers can join Papa Rewards to earn free pizzas and receive special coupon offers through the Papa John's app and email program.

The Papa John's Brand

Through quality ingredients, convenience, menu innovation, and competitive prices, Papa John's has built one of the strongest brands in the pizza industry. Key factors that make the Papa John's brand stand out include:

A Focus on Better Ingredients

Since the beginning, Papa John's has focused on better ingredients to create better-tasting pizzas. Their fresh original dough and real mozzarella cheese set them apart from frozen pizza and chains using prepared pizza dough and imitation cheese.

A Superior Customer Experience

Papa John's strives to provide caring, high-quality customer service. Customers can expect fast delivery, hot pizzas that arrive without errors, and friendly employees at the counter and on the phone.

Innovation

Papa John's is always innovating to introduce new pizzas, sides, and ways to improve the customer experience. Ordering online and via mobile app makes getting Papa John's even more convenient.

Charitable Contributions

The Papa John's brand is also built around giving back. They have donated over $30 million to charitable organizations. Some partners include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Growth of Papa John's

From one small broom closet pizzeria in 1985, Papa John's has grown to become one of the world's favorite pizza brands. Some key milestones in their growth include:

• 1989 - 100th restaurant opens.
• 1996 - 1,500th restaurant opens.
• 1999 - International expansion begins in Mexico.
• 2002 - 3,000th restaurant opens.
• 2010 - The 4,000th Papa John's opens.
• 2014 - First restaurant opens in Russia
• 2017 - 5,000th location opens.
• 2017 - Over $1 billion in system-wide North American sales.

Today, there are over 5,200 Papa John's restaurants operating in 45 countries around the world. Papa John's continues growing through new restaurant openings, forming partnerships, and entering new global markets.

The Future of Papa John's

As Papa John's moves into the future, they remain committed to providing a superior customer experience built around quality. Some priorities going forward include:

• Opening more international locations to become the world's pizza brand.
• Focusing on menu innovation and new product development.
• Leveraging technology to make ordering and interactions more convenient.
• Supporting local communities through charitable partnerships.
• Continuing investments in fresh ingredients and operational excellence.
• Developing new tools to connect with customers and meet their changing needs.

With over 35 years of success and brand leadership, Papa John's is well positioned to continue growing and innovating in the pizza industry. Customers can look forward to more delicious pizzas, convenient ways to order, and Papa John's world class customer service for years to come.

FAQs

What sets Papa John's pizza apart from other pizza chains?

Papa John's uses fresh, never-frozen original dough, real mozzarella cheese, and vine-ripened tomato sauce on every pizza. They slice vegetables daily and avoid artificial colors, flavors and preservatives found at many chains.

Does Papa John's offer gluten-free or vegan menu options?

Yes, Papa John's now offers a gluten-free crust, plus vegan cheese and meat substitute toppings. These can be combined to create gluten-free and vegan pizzas.

How can I save money on my Papa John's order?

Sign up for the Papa Rewards program to earn points toward free pizzas. Also take advantage of regular special offers posted on the website, or look for deals on the Papa John's app.

Can I order Papa John's for delivery?

Yes, Papa John's offers both takeout and delivery from most locations. Delivery fees and minimum order amounts vary by location. You can order online or by phone for delivery.

Does Papa John's offer catering?

Papa John's caters parties, events, office meetings and more. You can order catering platters with your choice of pizzas, sides, and desserts from their catering menu.