Aug. 15, 2025
At Papa Johns, we’ve set a bold vision: to become the Best Pizza Makers in the Business. A lofty goal? Sure! But we are up to the challenge. During our brand’s history, we’ve always been focused on quality and Better Ingredients. Better Pizza®. But being the best pizza makers means more than just making great pizza—it means getting Back to Better through operational excellence, because great pizza begins with strong fundamentals.
We’re investing in tools, training and support to help every restaurant deliver on our promise. But what’s most exciting? We’re already seeing the impact—thanks to franchisees and general managers who are embracing the challenge and leading the way.
Back to Better: An All-In Commitment
Earlier this year, we launched our Invest and Transform journey with a clear message to our operators: every order, every customer, every time—we must deliver excellence. That means taking ownership of our operations and holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards.
We’ve made meaningful progress over the past few years, reclaiming what has always set Papa Johns apart: our obsession with quality and our dedication to craftsmanship. But we’re not stopping there. Getting better is a continuous journey—and we’re all in.
Empowering Franchisees for Success
Our goal is simple: help our franchisees become the best operators in the business. That means increasing customer satisfaction and driving profitability. In 2025, we introduced new tools and resources designed to support restaurant teams with a focus on compliance, accountability and brand protection.
Here’s how we’re doing it:
Restaurant Operations Coaches for All
We (re)launched several new operational initiatives and created a team of centralized Brand Standards Coaches—many of whom come directly from our restaurant and franchise teams. These coaches are here to guide, support and elevate restaurant operations, ensuring every team is equipped to deliver superior customer experience.
Product Quality: Oven Calibration & Slice & Rise Kits
Aside from our people and delicious pizza, our ovens are the behind-the-scenes stars of the show. That’s why we introduced a comprehensive oven guide to ensure every pizza is baked to perfection. Alongside that, we sent every restaurant an updated Slice & Rise Kits to help teams regularly test pizza quality and coach in real time. Live training from our coaches—both virtual and in-person—has helped bring these tools to life across the system. Are those simple focuses paying off? Absolutely! Take Restaurant #1412 in Bayside. They’ve placed a tremendous amount of focus and attention on putting their product and their people first. The result? Tim Ashlock and team have driven weekly sales to more than $39,000 without raising prices. Their blueprint? An intense focus on team engagement and turning every interaction into a coaching moment rooted in a passion for quality. Since this focus, the restaurant has seen increased customer satisfaction scores.
Menu Simplification and Innovation
We’re streamlining our menu to make life easier for our teams and keep the focus where it belongs: making great pizza. We’ve already removed high-complexity items and are testing additional changes to simplify operations even further. Along the same lines, we are introducing (or re-introducing fan favs from the past) innovation items. We brought back Cheesy Burger Pizza and made fan favorite Shaq-A-Roni a permanent menu item. And we aren’t done yet!
Data-Driven Decisions
We love data and we’re increasing the number of information touchpoints for every restaurant, giving them even more access to data-led insights to drive improvement. From OSAT (customer satisfaction) and Mystery Shops to our ROIP coaching sessions, and market visits, we’re using objective tools to consistently assess performance—and identify opportunities to get better.
Together, We’re Getting Back to Better
We are also actively engaging our General Managers, the backbone of each of our restaurants. We’re communicating with them now more than ever: coaching, mentoring and listening to their suggestions. Because that’s what it takes to be the Best Pizza Makers in the Business. And it isn’t just a goal—it’s a shared journey, and our GMs and franchisees are there with us every step of the way. From sharpening our operations to empowering our teams and franchisees, we’re building a culture rooted in pride, accountability and an unwavering commitment to quality. Every slice we serve reflects the passion and progress happening across our system. And while we’ve made great strides, we know the best is yet to come. Because when we work together, stay focused, and keep raising the bar, there’s no limit to how far we can go. We are getting better, together, with our restaurant team members and franchisees.
