Papa John's Pizza

Top US food chain opens in Manila 

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte 

US consumers' top choice, Papa John's Pizza, is finally coming to the Philippines. Papa John's is the third largest pizza chain in the world with more than 3,500 restaurants in the United States, across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more than 25 years, the brand has grown steadily by delivering on its commitment to offer customers only the best. “Our tomato sauce and cheeses has to be imported from the US while other ingredients sourced locally has to be approved. We already have accredited suppliers from the US, China, and Thailand. You must try our Super Papa Chicken Pizza with the green pickled chili. It's not too spicy, just the right bite. You'll love it!” invited Paul Soo, president of Berjaya Pizza Philippines, during the launching ceremonies. “We will be opening an outlet in SM Megamall early next year and then in Quezon City and Alabang in the next two years. We're also looking at suitable spots in the El Pueblo Real in Pasig and the Tomas Morato party strip in Quezon City,” Soo added. 

John Schnatter was a high school student working at a local pizza pub in Jeffersonville, Indiana when he first realized that there was something missing from national pizza chains: a superior-quality traditional pizza delivered to the customer's door! From that realization sprung Papa John's Pizza, the American chain built on the promise of 'better ingredients, better pizza.'

From fresh vegetables to hand-tossed original dough and fresh-packed tomato sauce, Papa John's proves its commitment to providing a menu that's prepared with only the finest ingredients. Even their cheese is crafted from 100% mozzarella and high-quality milk, giving it a mild and delicate, yet full-bodied, flavor. “Our dough is made with filtered water and only done in a single place. It is then refrigerated, but not frozen, at 4 degrees Celsius to activate the yeast, and then stored at our 400-square-meter commissary in Cainta for 3 days. The Philippines is a good place to go when it comes to eating food,” apprized Myles Felt, Papa John's regional VP for Asia, India and the Middle East. “Mr. Schnatter, the 48-year-old owner, sold his Camaro car to create this pizza business. He got it back 67 months after from a $250K broadcast,” he added.

Camaro is the Bumblebee car in the action movie Transformers. Filipinos living abroad, who have tried Papa John's Pizza, swear by its mouth-watering taste. And the good news is, Filipinos at home will finally get a taste of their super-quality pizza with the opening of its stores in Metro Manila. The brand's arrival in the country promises to provide a fresh and scrumptious dining experience to gourmands. Even with its expansion throughout the years, Papa John's has been able to maintain its superior quality ever since Schnatter opened his first restaurant in 1984. 

Papa John's Int'l Inc. and Berjaya Pizza Philippines have sealed a deal to bring to the Philippine market the better pizza option this December. Filipinos, who are great pizza lovers, will surely appreciate and enjoy the brand that's been renowned for using high-protein flour, real meat toppings, and only high-quality ingredients. Representatives of both companies gathered before national media to make an announcement of appointing Berjaya Pizza Philippines as official franchisee of Papa John's Int'l to the country. 

“The Philippine food service market has showed increasing growth in the past five years; as shown by the increase in a number of stores of the QSR chains both domestic and foreign. There has also been an increasing consumption in the food delivery business. We are confident that these trends will continue to grow; creating the right conditions for a well-known international brand like Papa John's to enter the Philippine market,” declared Dato Francis Lee, CEO and executive director of Berjaya Pizza Malaysia, the holding company of franchises to a number of international brands in Asia that includes Kenny Rogers Roasters, Wendy's and 7-11. 

“Our first Asian outlet opened at the Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 2008. It's high time we venture off Malaysia and share Papa John's goodness to the 90-million food-loving Filipinos. Our emphasis is always on freshness and that there'll be no compromise, may it be for dining in or out. Our objective is to open a hundred outlets in the Philippines and provide job opportunities in the F&B industry. We are looking forward to this first of many Papa John's restaurants in the Philippines,” continued CEO Lee. 

The Berjaya Group owns franchises to Friendster, Berjaya Hotel, Lotto and many more in Malaysia. Papa John's has consistently been rated No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Restaurants & Institutions (R&I) magazine honored the brand with the 2009 Gold Award for consumers' choice on chains in the pizza segment. It is the official sponsor of the National Football League and the Super Bowl from its 45th through the 47th season. 

“The key to Papa John's success is based on the focus on quality, especially in using superior quality ingredients and total customer experience. We are consistently delivering on our 'better ingredients, better pizza' brand promise. A satisfied customer is a loyal customer so we measure up just about every aspect of the customer experience to make sure we are meeting the high standards they demand,” enthused Mr. Felt in his keynote speech. Papa John's will open outlets in major malls in Metro Manila and within residential and commercial business districts to cater to the delivery service segment. Now that the brand is finally opening stores in the metro, more Filipinos will enjoy the highest standards in pizza whether in-store or delivered. Dato Francis Lee also promises that Papa John's will create good memories and thrills for Filipino diners. 

“The warm and welcoming store interiors to the friendly and efficient service of our team members and service staff coupled with our commitment will set the new standards for superior quality pizzas in the Philippines.” Lee adds that Filipinos can expect the menu to offer not only signature pizzas like the best-selling Super Papa's, All-the-Meats, and Pepperoni but also pasta dishes, baked rice meals and other signature items like cheese sticks & bread sticks, chicken wings and chicken strips. In addition, Papa John's pizzas will be served with the signature garlic dipping sauce and pepperoncinis on the side. The menu items will cater to all age groups throughout the day and provide a comprehensive selection of soups, salad, pizza & pasta as well as dessert for families, friends and co-workers to savor and delight. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's Int'l Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ index as PZZA. For more information about the company or to order on-line, simply visit the Web site, www.papajohns.com.