LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Papa John’s International, Inc. announced plans to open a new global headquarters in the Metro Atlanta area.
The pizza giant's IT, supply chain and legal teams will remain at the Louisville headquarters.
The Atlanta move is a key element of a broader reorganization of corporate functions, reflecting the company’s ongoing transformation into a brand, a press release says.
“Shortly after setting a new strategic direction for Papa John’s late last year, we began to assess the optimal corporate organization to support our restaurants and our brand’s long-term growth,” said Rob Lynch, President & CEO. “With strong momentum and our potential expanding every day, we are investing in capabilities for future innovation and global growth, improving efficiencies, and better aligning our organization around the strategies that are driving our near- and long-term success.”
The company is currently in discussions with a number of potential office locations throughout the Metro Atlanta area and expects to complete the selection process by the end of 2020.
"Atlanta is also our largest corporate-owned restaurant market and the location of our newest and most sophisticated QCC," said Lynch. "The Louisville headquarters – Papa John’s home for 36 years – remains essential to the company’s success and we look forward to continuing to be a great corporate partner in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Part of the company's strategic reorganization and opening of its new headquarters facility, key corporate functions, including menu innovation, marketing, e-commerce, HR, diversity, operations excellence, communications, and development jobs will be moved to Atlanta.
John Schnatter, Papa John's founder, said:
For 34 years, we created an incredible partnership of growth between Papa John’s, which I founded in the broom closet of my dad’s tavern, and the greater Louisville community. We took great pride at Papa John’s for creating hundreds of good-paying jobs in our Louisville headquarters, serving as an excellent corporate citizen, and giving back to the community through many, many charitable causes. I am saddened to learn that the company has now decided to locate their global headquarters in Atlanta. Despite pledging to maintain a company presence in Louisville, I’m concerned that the relationship won’t be the same as it was for three successful decades. While this is disappointing, I offer my best regards to my friends and colleagues in Louisville, hopeful that a new generation of entrepreneurs will create the next business success stories in the Louisville community.
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