Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA – News) surpassed $1 million in sales by mobile Web since launching the technology in July.
The milestone is the latest in a rapid rise in alternative ordering channels and sales for the chain, which earlier this year eclipsed $1 billion in overall online sales and recently rolled out a Facebook page that captured more than 175,000 fans in less than a week. In addition, the brand will offer a new iPhone application to its suite of digital widgets, available on “Cyber Monday,” Dec. 1.
“We pride ourselves on being the quality pizza leader and for bringing the most convenient high-tech resources to our customers,” says Jim Ensign, Papa John’s vice president, marketing communications. “This latest milestone of reaching $1 million in mobile Web orders in such a short time proves that consumers are increasingly using alternative methods for purchases, and we look forward to growing our technology capabilities to fit consumers’ evolving purchasing trends.”
The new Papa John’s iPhone application will be tailored to include optimized menus, entry fields, and graphics. Additionally, the restaurant locator will have a link to Google Maps, so users can both find the address of a restaurant, and click to a map for directions. Plus, just to make ordering even more accessible, the iPhone will have a Papa John’s short cut icon connected directly to the main mobile Web ordering screen.
Papa John’s online sales have grown exponentially since 2001, with online sales on average growing more than 50 percent each year and nearly reaching $400 million in 2007 alone. Today, more than 20 percent of all Papa John’s sales come online or through text, widget, or smart mobile device, and the company believes sales via alternative access channels could one day surpass traditional telephone orders.
