Donatos Pizza
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| Type | Private (Family Owned) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Key people | Jim Grote (Founder) Jane Abell (Chairman) Tom Krouse (CEO) |
| Products | Pizza, Subs, Salads |
| Website | www.donatos.com |
Donatos Pizza is a pizza delivery restaurant chain headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It has nearly 200 locations in six states, with the majority of locations in Ohio.[1] Donatos is also served at several venue outlets including Ohio Stadium,[2] Nationwide Arena,[3] and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.[4]
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[edit] History
In 1963, Ohio State sophomore Jim Grote purchased a small pizzeria on the south side of Columbus, Ohio for $1,300. From the beginning, Grote built Donatos on three fundamentals: creating a superior product, hiring great people, and to "treat others the way I would like to be treated". Today, these fundamentals still define Donatos as it promises “To serve the best pizza and make your day a little better.”[5]
In 1999, Donatos was purchased by McDonald's in an attempt to enter the pizza industry. However, a majority interest in Donatos was repurchased by Jim Grote and daughter Jane Abell in 2003 as McDonald's sought to refocus on its core business.[6] During this period Donatos also had operations in Munich, Germany.[7]
[edit] Products
Donatos is famous for its thin crust pizza that is loaded Edge to Edge® with toppings—there are over 100 pepperoni slices on every large pepperoni pizza. Also, the pizza is party-cut into square pieces to make it easier to eat. In August 2009, several Columbus, Ohio, stores launched a new hand-tossed crust, with the concept going company-wide later that year.[8] This pizza features a sweeter pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese instead of the company standard provolone, a traditional "pie cut," and a spicier pepperoni. In addition to pizza, Donatos serves subs, salads, stromboli, and wings.
[edit] Take and Bake
In 2004, the company introduced the Donatos Take and Bake in Kroger supermarkets.[9] The Take and Bake concept offers a limited menu of their Signature Pizzas created to the customer's desires. The pizza is placed on a disposable foil baking pan, packaged with a cardboard square cutting board, and boxed with instructions on how to bake them at home. Since its inception, the make-to-order concept has been phased out in favor of premade 13" pizzas. They are sold in five varieties including pepperoni, sausage, half pepperoni & half cheese, pepperoni & sausage, and cheese.
As of 2011, the Donatos Take and Bake will also be sold in Walmart Supercenters around the country.
[edit] References
- ^ "Donatos Pizza Franchising". www. donatospizzafranchise.com. http://www.donatospizzafranchise.com/about.html. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Lucky Horseshoe". Stadium Journey. http://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/ohio-stadium-s458/. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Game Day Menu". www.nationwidearena.com. http://www.nationwidearena.com/arena/TowerGameDayMenu08.pdf. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Food Available at the National Air and Space Museum". www.nasm.si.edu. http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/concessions/food.cfm. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ^ "About Donatos". www.donatos.com. https://www.donatos.com/phoenix-web/ourheritage.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Jane Grote Abell". Franklin University Leadership Center. 2003-12-15. http://www.franklinleadershipcenter.com/leadership-resources/biographies?name=jane-grote-abell. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
- ^ "Donatos Pizzeria Corporation". www.fundinguniverse.com. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Donatos-Pizzeria-Corporation-Company-History.htmlm. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Hand Tossed or Edge to Edge?". Greatest City of All. 2003-12-15. http://www.greatestcityofall.com/2009/09/16/hand-tossed-or-edge-to-edge/. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
- ^ "Donatos Pizzeria joins take-and-bake fray with Kroger kiosk". Pizza Marketplace. http://www.pizzamarketplace.com/article/111057/Donatos-Pizzeria-joins-take-and-bake-fray-with-Kroger-kiosk. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
