Papa Johns have announced their intention to expand into Northern Ireland with the opening of 20 new stores in the next decade… and Co Armagh is on the cards!
The signing of a milestone franchise agreement with Rana Group will see the new Papa Johns restaurants open across Northern Ireland over the next decade.
And, curious to know exactly where these stores might be located, Armagh I put the question to the franchisee… “Will one be coming to Co Armagh?”
In response, they indicated that a local branch is on the cards as part of their wider plans… but it could be two to three years away.
Which gives them plenty of time to find a suitable spot!
The world-famous pizza franchise opened its first store here on December 5 in Ballymena, with a second store to be announced by March 2026.
Each new store will create between 15 and 20 jobs, providing a significant boost to local employment. By the end of the decade, the 20 new stores will have generated up to 400 jobs across Northern Ireland.
Papa Johns operates 450 sites across the UK and is continuing to invest in both new store openings and innovation across its menu and digital platforms.
This latest agreement in Northern Ireland reflects the brand’s broader strategy to deliver high-quality, handcrafted pizzas to more customers while creating local employment and business opportunities in communities throughout the UK.
The franchisee, Rana Abhol, brings more than 25 years of experience in the pizza industry to the new Northern Ireland venture.
Having started his career taking phone orders and working his way up to regional operations director for a rival brand based in Northern Ireland, Rana joined Papa Johns in 2017 and has since built a strong track record of growth within the business.
Rana currently operates over 25 Papa Johns locations across the UK and is passionate about creating opportunities for local people as the business expands.
“This new agreement is an exciting milestone for Papa Johns, reinforcing our momentum and long-term vision for sustainably growing in the UK,” said Chris Phylactou, Managing Director UK & Europe at Papa Johns.
“We are proud to bring our Better Ingredients, Better Pizza ethos to more communities in Northern Ireland and the UK, offering our customers even more opportunities to enjoy the Papa Johns experience.
“This expansion will create hundreds of local jobs and allow us to play a meaningful role in the communities we serve – not just as a consumer brand, but as a committed partner in local growth and development.”
