Papa Johns plans 20-store expansion in Northern Ireland

The brand estimates that this will generate 400 jobs over the next 10 years.

Papa Johns has announced plans to open 20 restaurants in Northern Ireland, with the first restaurant to open this December.

The plans are part of a franchise agreement between the pizza brand and Amit Abhol who leads Rana Group to open restaurants in the next decade.

The first restaurant under this agreement opened last 5 December at 82 Broughshane Street, Ballymena, BT43 6ED, with a second restaurant to be announced by March 2026.

Papa Johns estimates that each new restaurant will create between 15 and 20 jobs, with the 20 restaurants generating up to 400 jobs across Northern Ireland.

Papa Johns operates 450 sites across the UK and is continuing to invest in both new restaurant 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.

"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.”