Papa Johns is cutting the price on its biggest pizza. The Works, a seven-topping pie that normally costs $17.69 for a medium and $20.99 for a large, is now $10.99 and $13.99 respectively. The discount starts Wednesday, and it is part of a broader push to stop losing customers.
The Works is a member of the chain’s Handcrafted Specialty Pizzas line. It carries pepperoni, julienne-cut Canadian bacon, spicy Italian sausage, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and black olives, all topped with mozzarella cheese. A publicist described the cheese as locking in flavor to deliver the perfect balance of taste and texture to the very last crumb.
The Seven Toppings
The Works is a pile of ingredients built for people who want everything on their pizza. Here is what goes on it:
- Pepperoni
- Julienne-cut Canadian bacon
- Spicy Italian sausage
- Onions
- Green peppers
- Mushrooms
- Black olives
The Works comes with pepperoni, julienne-cut Canadian bacon, spicy Italian sausage, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and black olives, all topped with mozzarella cheese. That list of ingredients explains why the Works is a pizza that most customers recognize, and why the discount is worth noting for anyone hosting a gathering this fall.
The discount runs through the fall entertaining season, including game-day watch parties and other social gatherings, according to a company release.
Sales Are Down
Papa Johns operates about 3,400 restaurants in North America and 6,000 worldwide. Its latest numbers show both domestic and global same-store sales dropping. For the quarter ending June 28, domestic same-store sales were down 8.9% and global same-store sales were down 8.3%.
The Works discount is a direct response to that pressure. By cutting the price on its signature pizza, Papa Johns is trying to draw customers back into its stores at a time when same-store sales are falling across the board.
What Else Is New
Earlier this month, Papa Johns introduced the Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza, which has 30% more pepperoni than a regular pie and is priced starting at $12.99 for a large.
Earlier this year, the chain added Oven-Toasted Sandwiches on ciabatta-style bread. They launched at $7.99, though they are now $9.99, according to the chain’s website.
The Price Comparison
| Size | Original Price | Discounted Price |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | $17.69 | $10.99 |
| Large | $20.99 | $13.99 |
The discount is notable because the Works is a seven-topping pizza. The price drop is substantial, and the Works is a pizza that most customers recognize.
The Verdict On The Discount
The Works discount is a clever move. It puts the chain’s signature pizza on sale at a moment when people are hosting gatherings. The price drop is substantial.
Whether it stops the sales decline is another matter. Papa Johns has been introducing new items for months, and the same-store sales numbers show the pressure. The Works discount is a response to that pressure, and it is a bold one.
Source material: “Papa Johns offers The Works pizza at discounted price,” Nation's Restaurant News.
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