Papa John's Case Analysis

Papa John's International was founded in 1984 when John Schnatter delivered his first pizza. The company now has nearly 4,200 locations, with operations in all fifty states and thirty-five countries (About Papa John's). To separate themselves in a crowded pizza market Papa John's has always stressed a higher-end product by touting their ingredients that results in a superior pizza. The company's strengths include the aforementioned quality ingredients, as well as an internal commitment to their employees by offering industry leading training programs aimed at providing the same consistent service to their customers. They also have an innovative marketing plan that reaches across the United States, specifically targeted for each location where the store has a location. They have also begun partnership with the National Football League and Pepsi to increase their presence during the 2013 football season through in-game promotions and social media activations (Papa John's Tops NFL Alliance With NFL Network 'Thursday Night Football' Campaign , 2013). The biggest strategy advantage Papa John's has over their competition is the small amount of capital needed to invest in store location. Each space is designed for only carry out orders cutting overhead that may exist in a larger building. The smaller space also allows for an efficient process while making their product. Their weaknesses include a lack of locations to compete with the larger players in the industry. While they have added more menu items in recent years, Papa John's menu lacks some of the additional offerings available at national pizza companies, as well as local and regional establishments. While these are weaknesses, they are also opportunities for Papa John's to grow their revenues. While they have established themselves as the "quality" leader in pizza there is significant opportunity in the wing and dessert markets for carry out products. The push for fresher, healthier food poses a threat for the pizza industry as a whole, but specifically Papa John's as others in their market have begun to establish healthier options.

What has been Papa John's key to success since its inception? Provide evidence for your answer.

Since the company started, the key to Papa John's success has been the company culture and investment in their employees (Our Key to Success). They have invested in model that empowers their employees to serve their customers daily with consistent service. They have stayed consistent with these goals and aligned their service with their quality products, all while holding each employee accountable and offering training opportunities on selling and communication methods. It's important for a company with so many owned and franchised locations to be consistent in their messaging and focused on preparing their team to focus on the main thing