LOUISVILLE Ky.
Papa John's Pizza's founder and chief executive, John Schnatter, is hitting the road, the airwaves and the Internet highway as part of a new ad campaign celebrating the chain's 25th anniversary.
The ads will depict Schnatter driving a 1972 Z28 Camaro – the same sports car he sold in order to help found the Papa John’s chain – as he personally delivers pizzas across the country. The "Papa's in the House" campaign will feature TV spots and a new website, www.papajohnsinthehouse.com, as well as a presence on various social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, Papa John's said.
The ads also will promote a special offer for Papa John’s Founder’s Favorite pizza, which is topped with sausage, pepperoni and a six-cheese blend. Customers will be able to buy a large Founder's Favorite and a large two-topping pie for $9.99 each.
The new advertising is the latest in a series of recent moves the company has made to heat up its sales. Late last month the company tapped Joseph Jude Thompson to take over as its new president and chief operating officer and also announced the return of Schnatter as its chief executive. He resumed the post last December on an interim basis after Nigel Travis resigned as president and chief executive to become chief executive of Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Brands Inc.
Papa John’s, which is based in Louisville, is the country’s third-largest pizza chain and operates or franchises more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide.
Contact Elissa Elan at [email protected].