US pizza giant grabs slice of Northern Ireland market with 20 new stores and 400 jobs..'This expansion will allow us to play a meaningful role in the communities we serve'
Papa Johns signs landmark Northern Ireland franchise agreement with Rana Group and opens first Ballymena store
US pizza giant Papa Johns has announced the signing of a milestone franchise agreement with Rana Group, which will see 20 new Papa Johns restaurants open across Northern Ireland over the next decade.
The first store opened its doors on last week at 82 Broughshane Street, 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 U.K. & 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."