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Watch out Domino’s – Donatos founder runs secret innovation hubWatch out Domino’s – Donatos founder runs secret innovation hub

Jim Grote’s lab develops technologies that benefit foodservice, and the pizza chain he founded in 1963

Nancy Luna, Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

September 23, 2020

1 Min Read
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Though Donatos prides itself as a family-run pizza company, don’t think for a second that the chain is old-fashioned when it comes to innovation.

In a recent Extra Serving podcast with Nation’s Restaurant News, CEO Tom Krouse let us know about a secret innovation hub that the brand’s founder and his father-in-law, Jim Grote, runs near the chain’s Ohio-based headquarters. 

A team of engineers work on “rapid prototyping different ideas” that will eventually benefit the foodservice industry -- including the pizza chain Grote founded in 1963.

“He knows the needs that Donatos has. Obviously he has a vested interest,” said Krouse, who also reveals Donatos’ latest experiment.

To learn about that pilot program and the innovation hub, take a look at our short video interview with Krouse.

Contact Nancy Luna at [email protected] 

Follow her on Twitter: @fastfoodmaven

About the Author

Nancy Luna

Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Nancy Luna is a senior editor at Nation's Restaurant News and a contributing editor at Supermarket News. She covers the industry's largest and most talked about fast-food brands including McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Subway. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. As a veteran business reporter based in Southern California, Nancy has covered some of the country's most beloved food and retail brands including In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, Target and Costco. Luna is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. When she's not digging for news on her beat, you can find Nancy regaling her fans about her latest dining adventures on her Fast Food Maven social media channels. Contact [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fastfoodmaven

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