Papa John’s International is set to expand its footprint by opening 50 more US restaurants by 2028 through a new agreement with franchisee Nadeem Bajwa and his company, the Bajco Group.
The move underscores a broader strategy aimed at bolstering the brand’s presence in key markets and is in line with the Bajco Group’s objective to own 500 Papa John’s outlets, with the group currently operating more than 200.
Bajwa expressed, “Inking this deal, my excitement mirrors that of 20 years ago when I inaugurated my initial restaurant.”
“At Papa John’s, it’s not solely about business. My team members are my family, and that’s an entirely distinct dynamic.”
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“I take pride in the fact that through our collaboration with Papa John’s, I’ve been able to pursue my own aspirations and witness my team members evolve from starting their first jobs to becoming leaders themselves.”
The latest agreement will facilitate the brand’s expansion into the Midwest, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Earlier this year, Papa John’s launched its Back to Growth (B2G) Program as part of its Back to Better 2.0 strategy, aimed at fostering growth in North America.
The program is centered around improving restaurant-level margins, providing a 600-basis point annual cost saving in restaurant profit and loss statements within the initial five years of new restaurant operations.
The initiative will notably enhance cash-on-cash returns for franchisees, increase scale for Papa John’s in strategic markets, and attract franchisees oriented towards growth.
Joe Sieve, Papa John’s Chief Restaurant Officer, remarked, “Nadeem’s journey exemplifies Papa John’s commitment to assisting franchisees in fostering mutual success.”
“Commencing his Papa John’s journey as a delivery driver, he now stands as one of the most influential advocates for the opportunities that Papa John’s offers to its team members and franchisees.”
“Nadeem’s belief in the brand and his industry expertise underscore why he is convinced that there has never been a more opportune moment to expand with Papa John’s.”
In March 2023, Papa John’s introduced its newest menu offering, the Crispy Cuppy ‘Roni, in the United States.
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