Operations

Donatos Pizza enters 2026 with innovation, national momentum

Photo: Donatos Pizza

January 30, 2026

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Donatos Pizza is entering 2026 following a year defined by strategic expansion and new menu innovation, according to a press release.

The brand partnered with The Ohio State University to pilot autonomous pizza delivery vehicles, and it debuted its first fully autonomous, robot-operated restaurant at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, introducing a 24/7, made-to-order pizza experience powered by advanced robotics designed for speed, precision and consistency in high-traffic environments.

Donatos hired Hayley Kianoff Satler as director of menu operations. Satler had more than a decade of experience in innovation at Wendy's.

The brand continues to strengthen its national footprint with recent and upcoming openings in key markets, including Panama City, Florida, Washington D.C. and South Bend, Indiana. It is also targeting the East Coast and Southeastern markets.

"We've seen steady growth across our target markets this year, validating the scalability of our proven model," Jeff Baldwin, vice president of development and franchising for Donatos Pizza, said in the release. "As more entrepreneurs continue to recognize the strength of the Donatos brand and its long-term growth potential, Donatos is well positioned to build on this momentum and expand into even more communities nationwide."

Donatos Pizza operated 175 stores. The brand's pizza is also served in nearly 300 non-traditional locations nationwide.