Food

Papa Johns' latest pizza features cheese on the bottom of the crust

The Crispy Parm Pizza has a layer of cheese baked under the crust to double the cheesy experience.
crispy parm pizza
The Crispy Parm Pizza, which has a layer of cheese baked under the crust, is the latest menu innovation from Papa Johns. /Photo courtesy of Papa Johns.

Papa Johns launched a new Crispy Parm Pizza Monday, offering a preview of the double-cheesy experience to loyalty members. The new pizza is available to all customers on Thursday.

The Crispy Parm Pizza has a layer of Parmesan and Romano cheeses baked underneath the bottom crust, creating an extra-crisp exterior with pumped-up cheese flavor. Pizza fans can then add any toppings they choose, including more cheese.

The price of the pie starts at $12.99 for one topping.

“At Papa Johns, we pride ourselves on our dedication to innovation,” Kimberly Bean, VP of menu strategy & calendar planning said in a statement. “For this product, we set our sights on one of the most fundamental pizza ingredients—cheese, and have taken cheese where we’ve never had it before—flipping the pizza over and putting it underneath the crust. In doing so, we are providing consumers with more ability to customize their pizza experience, while also enjoying a unique and surprising twist on a fan-favorite meal.”

The Crispy Parm Pizza is the latest menu innovation from the Atlanta-based pizza chain, following on the heels of Papa Bowls and Papa Bites last year. In 2021, NY Style Pizza and Epic Stuffed Crust pizza joined the lineup.

Menu innovation, especially on the premium side, has spurred sales and check growth, Papa Johns’ CEO Rob Lynch told Restaurant Business a year ago. The brand’s menu differentiates itself from competitors by promoting “better ingredients, better pizza.”

The Crispy Parm Pizza is being introduced just in time for National Pizza Day on Feb. 9, according to the news release.

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