Operations

Happy Joe's gets happier thanks to sales surge

Happy Joe's via Twitter.

June 11, 2021

Iowa-based Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream has significant sales gain in the last three months, with sales up 23% on average over the March through May time period this year compared to the same period in 2020. In fact, the company's recent three-month sales figures are up 7.5% over the same period in 2019 before the pandemic hit, according to a press release.

The brand, known for its Taco Pizza, said its MexiFest lineup and Fiery Joe Taco Pizza, served with Doritos Flamin' Hot Nacho tortilla chips, have driven demand for its whole gamut of Mexican-style pizzas.

The Fiery Joe Taco Pizza served with Doritos Flamin' Hot Nacho tortilla chips. (Provided)

The popularity contributed to an approximate $2 increase in check averages, the company said.

"Throughout the pandemic, Happy Joe's has shown there's no better place to create special memories, regardless of dine-in regulations," Happy Joe's CEO Tom Sacco said in the release. "We've provided an easy solution for guests to safely order delicious, gourmet comfort food and enjoy it with friends and family in the comfort of their own home. Happy Joe's business model features a pickup window, Happy Joe's delivery service and curbside service, so we were well-positioned to leverage off-premise sales. Even with dine-in service available again, delivery and pickup orders have remained the driving force behind our continued success."

Happy Joe's recently streamlined royalties and launched limited-time development incentives for new franchisees. Now through July 31, Happy Joe's is waiving its initial franchise fee, reducing royalties to 2% during the first year of operation and 4% during the second year of operation. Full royalty does not kick in until the 25th month of operation, under this program.

"Our goal at Happy Joe's is to ensure we always offer best-in-class products to satisfy our guests' ever-changing taste profiles and to provide our business-minded franchise owners a competitive edge," Sacco said in the release. "Our dedication to serving innovative products and supporting our franchisees is what sets Happy Joe's up to succeed now and for the long term domestically, as well as internationally."

Happy Joe's, founded in 1972 by Joe Whitty in Davenport, Iowa, has 42 locations across the Midwest.