Atlanta — Papa John’s International, Inc. plans to open 50 new restaurants by 2028 in partnership with franchisee Nadeem Bajwa and his company, The Bajco Group, which has grown over the past 20 years to become one of Papa Johns largest domestic franchisees.
Furthering Bajwa’s goal to own 500 Papa Johns restaurants, the new agreement will expand the Papa Johns footprint in The Bajco Group’s existing markets across the Midwest and in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Florida, adding to the more than 200 restaurants the franchisee and his team currently operate.
“Nadeem’s story is a clear example of how Papa Johns supports its franchisees to build shared success,” says Joe Sieve, chief restaurant officer of Papa Johns. “After starting his Papa Johns journey as a delivery driver, today he is one of the strongest ambassadors for the opportunities Papa Johns presents to its team members and franchisees. Nadeem’s confidence in the brand and expertise in the industry reinforces why he knows there has never been a better time to grow with Papa Johns.”
Earlier this year, Papa Johns announced the Back to Growth Program (B2G Program), a new development incentive program designed to accelerate growth in North America as part of its Back to Better 2.0 strategy. The new program will boost restaurant-level margins during the first 5 years of operations of new restaurants — equating to a 600-basis point of annual cost savings in restaurant P&Ls — which is expected to significantly improve cash-on-cash returns for franchisees, add scale for Papa Johns in key markets and attract growth-oriented franchisees.
Papa John’s International, Inc. first opened its doors in 1984. The company is co-headquartered in Atlanta and Louisville, Ky., and operates more than 5,900 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.papajohns.com.
The Bajco Group is primarily based in Canfield, Ohio, with a satellite office in Lahore, Pakistan. Its affiliated companies currently own and manage 200+ Papa John’s Pizza restaurants across 10 states in the U.S. and a commercial real estate portfolio across Midwest region of the United States.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: To read the February 2024 cover story of Retail & Restaurant Facility Business magazine on Papa Johns, click here.]
SOURCE: Papa Johns