Water way to deliver your pizzas!

Thursday 28th May

One of the world’s largest pizza companies is trialing a new international delivery initiative – and is hoping to make a splash in the future with customers living near water. Papa John’s Pizza has become the first chain in the world to commission a delivery jet-ski, which is specially made to include a waterproofed hot-rack pizza holding area, a secure storage compartment for money and a satellite navigation system for finding waterside addresses. The ‘RapidPapa’ has now completed its research and development stage and the first production model was checked out by Papa John’s founder John Schnatter on a recent visit to the UK.

The company is now applying to waterways for necessary permissions to trial the service at suitable UK stores, and if successful the pilot will be rolled out for all locations that could service a large numbers of apartments and houses via waterways.

Papa John’s has over 3,400 stores worldwide with sales of more than $1 billion, and John Schnatter believes the RapidPapa could become a feature in many of its international markets.


He said: “It’s a fantastic idea and it’s great to see that the UK team is always trying new things to ensure that our top quality pizzas are matched by the best delivery service available.

“The vehicles look fantastic and are adapted to ensure that the pizza stays fresh and hot during its journey, and that our delivery drivers are safe and well equipped.”

John Schnatter was visiting the UK to officially open Papa John’s 50th store in London, and took time out to announce plans for another 30-40 stores in the capital by 2011.

That news was welcomed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who believes it is the kind of business shot in the arm that will help London emerge strongly from the current economic climate.

He said: “London’s small and medium businesses are critical to the capital’s success and will provide the springboard to economic growth and prosperity once the upturn arrives.

“Papa John’s is a great example of a firm that is playing a significant role, employing over 3,700 Londoners and opening its 50th store in the capital.”

John Schnatter founded the company in the USA in 1984. He sold his beloved Camaro car to buy his first oven and soon began selling pizzas.  25 years later and Papa John’s is the third largest pizza company in the world, with more than 3400 stores in 29 countries. In the UK Papa John’s is the current Pizza Delivery Chain of the Year 2008 according to the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association.

For more information on the RapidPapa visit www.papajohns.co.uk