Papa Johns released a brand-new pizza with a garlic sauce flight just in time for National Pepperoni Pizza Day this past weekend.
The pizza giant launched the “Papa Dippa” on September 22, allowing guests to taste the pie alongside four dipping sauces: Special Garlic, Garlic Parmesan, Garlic Pesto and Garlic Hot Honey.
Why It Matters
Many consumers in the United States are spending less on retail and restaurant purchases amid an uncertain economic environment. As a result, restaurants and fast-food giants are unveiling new menu items to capture customer interest. Alongside Papa Johns, Starbucks, Arby’s, Chipotle, and Popeyes have announced their own menu changes in recent weeks.
“So many Americans are looking for affordability over all else these days, but some fast food chains have proven pairing lower prices with new menu options can certainly serve as a gateway to more business returning,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
What To Know
The Papa Dippa pizza features a 14-inch base, cut into 16 rectangular strips instead of traditional slices, and comes paired with four sauces: the iconic Special Garlic sauce, Roasted Garlic Parmesan, Creamy Garlic Pesto, and Garlic Hot Honey.
The menu item, priced at $13.99, is designed specifically for dipping and sharing, aligning with current snacking and party trends. Nutritionally, each slice contains 160 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein, according to Papa Johns.
From September 25 to October 9, customers can use Uber Eats to “Dip Out” by gifting a Papa Dippa pizza, along with a personalized message, directly to another recipient’s address.
What People Are Saying
Alex Beene told Newsweek: “Like so many other restaurant chains, Papa Johns has been looking for ideas to persuade cash-strapped customers back through their doors. An aggressive ‘buy one, get one’ promotion was launched in recent weeks to coincide with the beginning of the football season, and now we’re seeing a ‘Pappa Dipa’ menu item introduced in the hopes it can bring more business back through their locations’ doors.”
What Happens Next
Papa Johns has projected system-wide sales growth between 2 percent and 5 percent for 2025, with expectations for 85 to 115 new restaurant openings across North America.
The company is also expected to continue introducing new product concepts and limited-time offers to drive market share, with a continued emphasis on digital ordering and strategic brand partnerships such as Uber Eats.