Papa John’s partners with DoorDashPapa John’s partners with DoorDash

Papa John’s International Inc. has partnered with DoorDash, expanding third-party delivery to 1,400 restaurants nationwide, the company said Wednesday.

The DoorDash partnership is meant to supplement the reach of Papa John’s in-house delivery service.

“This partnership extends our continued commitment to meet customers wherever they are and provide simple, easy ordering for guests in addition to our own world-class Papa John’s mobile app,” Anne Fischer, senior vice president of customer experience at Papa John’s, said in a statement. “More than 60% of Papa John’s transactions occur online. With this in mind, we are dedicated to exceeding our customers’ expectations when it comes to ordering and delivery convenience.”

Papa John’s CEO Steve Ritchie first mentioned the DoorDash partnership last summer when he offered the delivery partnership as an opportunity to expand the Louisville, Ky.-based based pizza company’s delivery options and provide service to underserved areas:

“Papa John's is a mature delivery player with tremendous reach,” Ritchie said during the August 2018 earnings call. “However, there are still many customers in outlying rural areas, even some suburban developments who live outside of our delivery zones. With our industry-leading coverage, consumer base and fulfillment technology, DoorDash will help to mitigate this challenge.”

To promote the new partnership, Papa John’s is offering free delivery through the DoorDash app for St. Patrick’s Day weekend from March 15 to March 17, on all orders over $10.

Papa John’s has been implementing a number of turnaround efforts in recent months, including new menu items and the launch of a revamped loyalty program, as it works to stop slipping sales. For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 30, 2018, Papa John’s reported an 8.1% drop in North America same-store sales, its fifth straight quarter of sales declines.

Papa John’s is the third-largest pizza delivery chain in America and had more than 5,300 locations worldwide as of the end of 2018.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]

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