Aug. 30, 2024
What fun it has been since becoming a Papa Johns team member just a few weeks ago! The passion and energy I have felt in our restaurants, Quality Control Centers and Restaurant Support Centers is inspiring as I begin my time here.
One of my immediate goals since becoming CEO has been to fully immerse myself in all aspects of our business and the experiences we offer our team members and customers alike. Over the next few weeks and months, I will be meeting with team members, franchisees, suppliers and other partners across the globe to kick off the next chapter of what brings us all together – pizza. Follow along with me through Todd’s Take, where I’ll be sharing memorable moments, impactful facts and stories from the people I meet, and enjoying many slices of great pizza along the way.
My first stop was Louisville, of course, the town where Papa Johns transformed itself from a regional chain into the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company. That incredible story of transformation and growth was created – and our next big wins will be achieved – by people dedicated to the craft of making superior pizza and to our promise of Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.
Here are just a few of the many folks in Louisville who I am proud to call fellow team members:
Posing for a selfie with Dewarn
As each new Papa Johns restaurant prepares to open its doors, Dewarn Williams is on site to help install the crucial technology infrastructure needed to receive orders, offer customers new menu items, dispatch delivery drivers, manage ingredient inventory and ensure our restaurants are safe and secure. Thanks to Dewarn and others on his team, Papa Johns is harnessing the power of ever-evolving digital technology to deliver for our customers in new and better ways.
Check out Amber’s pizza tattoo!
One hallmark of a great company is the opportunity for employees to build fulfilling careers over the long term, and I loved hearing from team members about their own unique journeys with Papa Johns. When Amber Hobson first became a Papa Johns delivery driver more than seven years ago, she assumed she would soon move on to other opportunities. But, thanks to the mentorship provided by a Papa Johns leader who inspired her to see the impact she could make, she built a home on our team and is currently the General Manager of a Louisville-area restaurant, where she recruits and welcomes new team members just beginning their own Papa Johns journey.
Phil and team show me around our Restaurant Support Center – Louisville
To successfully expand into new markets across North America and grow our footprint around the globe, we must first build a deep understanding of a particular market’s demographics and the culture and habits of those who live there. Phil Thompson and others on our Development Team create block-by-block analyses of communities to help us find potential customers and plot out the best locations for a new Papa Johns restaurant to serve them. Each time a customer receives their order within the projected delivery time, it’s due in part to the smart planning insights provided by people like Phil.
Thank you, Louisville team members, for sharing with me the hospitality our customers deserve and for bringing to life the welcoming culture that makes Papa Johns a great place to work. I’m looking forward to learning from others in our broader Papa Johns community and sharing what I find along the way. Stay tuned for the next Todd’s Take!
*Special appreciation is due to the several team members who have gently coached me on my pronunciation of “Loo-uh-vul.”
