Papa Johns offers free pizza in exchange for customer feedback

Papa Johns is inviting customers to share their pizza photos and honest opinions in exchange for a free pie, using a new promotion to gather insights that could help improve the customer experience.

The two-week "Snap a Pizza, Get a Free Pizza" promotion, which launched Nov. 9, encourages customers to photograph their orders and provide feedback on the bake, crust and overall experience, according to a press release.

In return, eligible participants will receive a free large one-topping pizza through their Papa Rewards account.

The initiative taps into the increasingly common habit of photographing meals before eating, turning what Papa Johns calls the "phone eats first" ritual into an opportunity to hear directly from customers.

"We see the pizza pics, the unboxings and the hot takes online every day, and we know our customers aren't shy about sharing what they think," Chris Lyn-Sue, global chief marketing officer at Papa Johns, said in the release. "With Snap Pizza, Get a Free Pizza, we're inviting that feedback directly. Every photo and every review helps us better understand what customers love and where we can improve as we continue our journey to deliver a better experience every time they choose Papa Johns."

To participate, customers must be Papa Rewards members and opt in to SMS messages. They then place an order of at least $15 through the Papa Johns app or website and wait for a text invitation. After receiving the alert, customers submit a real, unedited photo of their pizza along with an honest review. Once the photo is confirmed, a free large one-topping pizza is added to their rewards offers. The reward is valid with a minimum $5 purchase on the next order.

The promotion is the first expression of Papa Johns' broader Unbox Better strategy, announced in November. The strategy focuses on strengthening the customer experience across product quality, value, restaurant execution and service.