CEO Kevin King explains how the spirit of innovation started by founder Jim Grote has pervaded the entire chain
While it may not be as big as Pizza Hut, Domino’s, or Little Caesars, Donatos Pizza has been around roughly as long as those legacy brands, having first opened in 1963. And, as it pursues new franchise expansion across the East Coast, the Columbus, Ohio-based chain with nearly 200 locations is leaning into two signature characteristics that have been a part of its DNA since day one: consistency and innovation.
Those characteristics trace back to Donatos founder Jim Grote, who was so committed to perfectly placing 100 pepperonis on a pizza that he invented his own pepperoni slicer. In fact, his knack for equipment innovation led Grote — who is still an active presence at the family-owned Donatos — to launch The Grote Company, which manufactures food-slicing equipment.
Now, Donatos is taking that innovation to new heights, developing kitchen equipment that automates everything from spreading sauce to slicing and distributing pepperoni, allowing for product consistency as well as the ability for employees to focus more on guest interactions.
Kevin King, who recently took on the title of CEO after spending the past two years as president of Donatos, joined the latest episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches to talk about why consistency and innovation are so important to Donatos as it fights for share in the pizza category.
In this conversation, you’ll learn more about why:
You can go home again — and bring some new lessons with you
If you can’t find the right tool for your operations, build it yourself
Automated technology can allow your team to focus on guest interaction
You don’t have to take an all-or-nothing approach to innovation
Consistency is key to growth and relevance
Contact Sam Oches at [email protected].
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