Papa Johns is hitting back at critics this veganuary after receiving complaints that its new vegan Jackfruit ‘pepperoni’ pizza tastes a bit too much like the real thing.
The tongue-in-cheek campaign showcases a complaint made by a furious vegan customer who genuinely believed that they had eaten real pork pepperoni – instead of the pizza chain’s jackfruit substitute.
To celebrate the accusations that it has ‘ruined veganuary‘, Papa Johns has commissioned a giant out-of-home billboard displaying a customer’s furious complaint over the taste of its jackfruit pepperoni pizza.
“As Veganuary comes to a close, we are demonstrating our commitment to our year-round vegan menu by continuing to develop and improve meat alternatives,” Papa Johns marketing director, Rebecca Carroll said.
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“By dispelling any confusion around our real-tasting, real-looking meat alternatives, we hope customers can continue to enjoy their favourite vegan products – or perhaps try something new!”
The PR stunt comes as the US brand is increasingly looking to expand its vegan offering through product research and development. The billboard will be visible across London this weekend.
Papa Johns international R&D director, Adam Wilco*ck added: “This customer feedback is testament to the recent expanded research and development we have put into our vegan range.”
“The new Jackfruit ‘pepperoni’ has been developed in line with our usual meat pepperoni by using the same spices for the same flavour, and we’ve paid specific attention to developing the thickness and texture to give it a similar texture to the real thing.”
FAQs
Does Shaq own Papa John's Pizza? Shaquille O'Neal owns Papa Johns in a very loose sense, in that he is a franchise owner in Atlanta GA with nine stores, he sits on the board of directors for the company, and he owns stock in the company. What was Shaquille O'Neal's career like after he left the Los Angeles Lakers?
What are the Papa John allegations? ›
In 1999, Schnatter was accused of stalking and groping a woman. He claimed the woman was trying to extort him for $5 million. The situation ended with a confidential settlement. In 2009, Schnatter was accused of sexual misconduct involving a 24-year-old female marketing employee, resulting in a confidential settlement.
What is Papa Johns changing its name to? ›
“Papa John's” will now be known as “Papa Johns” in its branding and marketing. The company name, Papa John's International, will not be changing its name, a spokesperson said. The company also unveiled a new, apostrophe-free logo and a new restaurant logo, according to the news release.
Is John Schnatter still with Papa Johns? ›
Why did Papa Johns' founder step down as chairman? In July 2018, Schnatter resigned from his position as chairman of Papa Johns after admitting he used the N-word on a public relations call.
How much does Shaq get paid from Papa Johns? ›
, paying $5.625M over three years, according to Jon Springer of AD AGE.
How many Krispy Kreme does Shaq own? ›
O'Neal only currently owns one location in Atlanta but says he would like to own many more and told The Wall Street Journal that Krispy Kreme is his favorite business endeavor. “I like doughnuts, and Charles Barkley loves doughnuts,” he said. “And he's my biggest customer. I wanna be a large part of that business.”
Is Papa Johns closing in 2024? ›
Global pizza chain Papa John's has revealed that it plans to shut down 43 restaurants across the UK in the coming months, with 16 in London to close. It comes as the takeaway business confirmed plans to axe the “underperforming” locations after launching a review at the start of 2024.
Why did Papa John get rid of the apostrophe? ›
Papa John's is dropping the apostrophe in its brand name as it unveiled a new marketing strategy this week. Papa John's is becoming less possessive about its brand name. The pizza chain is launching a new brand identity that includes dropping the apostrophe from its name, the company said in a news release on Tuesday.
Who is the new face of Papa Johns? ›
O'Neal is increasing the time he's investing in new business ventures, he will continue to serve as an important partner to Papa Johns as a brand ambassador and through his investment in nine Papa Johns restaurants in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Did Papa John win the lawsuit? ›
Papa Johns International Inc. has agreed to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit for $175,000, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Strategic closures were previously confirmed by Papa Johns to improve profitability and free up money. 'While this is a difficult decision, closing these underperforming locations will give us the opportunity to invest back into the right locations with the right partners for long-term growth.
Who is John Schnatter's wife? ›
Who owns Papa Johns now? ›
Majority Ownership of Papa John's
The majority shareholder of Papa John's is T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., holding 11.38% of the company as of August 24, 2023. This significant stake underscores the investment firm's confidence in the pizza chain's growth and strategy.
What happened with Shaq and Papa Johns? ›
Due to Shaquille O'Neal's Business Commitments, Papa Johns Announces He Will Not Seek 2024 Board Re-Election. ATLANTA --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2024-- On February 22, 2024 , Shaquille O'Neal informed the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Papa John's International, Inc.
What food franchise did Shaq buy? ›
Five Guys was the basketball legend's first big franchise investment. O'Neal first became involved with the company in 2008 when he bought a location in Atlanta, eventually opening dozens more around the U.S. At one point in time, he even owned 155 locations (around 10%) of the burger franchise's entire portfolio.
