Operations

Papa John's moving many HQ functions to Atlanta

Papa John's is moving many of its corporate functions to Georgia. (Photo: iStock)

September 17, 2020

Papa John's said it will open a global headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, to handle menu creation, marketing, HR, communications and development, according to a news release. Supply chain, IT, and legal teams, however, will remain in Louisville, Kentucky, which is also home turf for the brand's founder and embattled former CEO, John Schnatter.

the brand also maintains a headquarters office outside of London in the United Kingdom, for management of international operations of the chain.

The metro Atlanta facility addition is a key element, the brand said, in its broader reorganization of corporate functions to align with Papa John's "purpose, values and strategic business priorities." The Atlanta headquarters are set to open next summer, but will not affect the chain's stores or its nationwide network of quality control centers.

"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," Rob Lynch, Papa John's president and CEO, said in the release. "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. …"

"Metro Atlanta's deep talent pool and its world-class airport connecting us to the domestic and international markets that are key to our brand's future will accelerate our long-term growth. Atlanta is also our largest corporate-owned restaurant market and the location of our newest and most sophisticated QCC."

The company is 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.

Papa John's currently has more than 5,300 restaurants in 48 countries and territories. Atlanta is also home to an increasing number of restaurant brands, like Inspire Brands, Krystal and Church's Chicken, among others.