Papa Johns plans to deliver pizzas in India.
The Atlanta-based pizza chain on Tuesday said it has signed a 10-year, 650-unit deal in the country with PJP Investments, an existing operator that operates 100 locations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
PJP will open Papa Johns’ first location in India in Bangalore in 2024, followed by openings in other cities in South India and then other regions in the country. Papa Johns considers India a key market given its size and rising income levels.
PJP Investments is led by Tapan Vaidya. In addition to India, PJP plans to open Papa Johns’ first location in Iraq in 2024.
The new India deal will also put PJP on pace to operate nearly 1,000 locations over the next decade.
The agreement comes as Papa Johns has been focused on international growth. The company has signed a string of deals with international operators, notably an agreement with FountainVest Partners to build 1,750 locations in China by 2040. The company has also expanded agreements with existing operators to open more locations.
Papa Johns operates more than 2,500 locations outside the U.S., or just under half of the pizza chain’s locations. But rivals like Pizza Hut and Domino’s each operate more restaurants internationally than they do domestically, a trend that is increasingly common as big U.S. brands look for more consistent growth.
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