Papa John’s has become the latest pizza delivery firm to trial a food court format.
The c200-strong group has launched the new format at Tunbridge Wells Shopping Centre through franchisee Danny Saadany.
It follows an unsuccessful trial of a food court site by Domino’s Pizza in Essex last year.
Saadany said: “Papa John’s has helped with investment to allow us trial this new shop format where customers order in-store and eat in the communal food-court seating area. We are now employing three staff on weekdays and five at the weekends and our hours match those of the centre opening times, so shoppers can now enjoy Papa John’s pizza and get their retail therapy at the same time!”
Papa John’s recently announced incentives worth $2m to attract new UK franchisees. It is specifically encouraging applications from Wales, the Midlands, northern England and Scotland.
The company said it had reduced its franchise fee and is giving away a top-of-the range oven and electronic point of sale equipment worth £30,000, plus £10,000 worth of marketing spend, to new franchisees whose stores open during 2013.
The move into the food court arena was seen as another step in Domino’s stated ambition of exploring opportunities in non-traditional trading areas. Last year, it also ended the trial of a site with Moto, the motorway services operator, but said that it would continue to investigate new formats.
