Papa John’s Kenya Targets Growth After Two Years

Papa John’s Kenya has announced a renewed brand push aimed at strengthening its visibility and accelerating expansion across Nairobi, two years after entering the Kenyan market.

Anchored on its global promise, “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.”, the brand is leveraging a growing store network and a convenience-first retail strategy to appeal to Nairobi’s fast-paced, on-the-go consumer. The renewed push is being underlined by the opening of new outlets at Shell service stations in Lavington and along Thika Road—high-traffic locations designed to meet customers where they already are.

Although the brand has been operating in Kenya with minimal fanfare, the relaunch signals a more deliberate growth phase.

“This marks an important phase of growth for Papa John’s in Kenya,” said Ayan Ali, Director, Papa John’s Kenya. “Our focus is on strengthening visibility and accelerating expansion across the country. With 10 stores already serving customers and plans to open eight more this year, we are making it easier for people to discover us, experience our quality, and choose Papa John’s again and again.”

Papa John’s Kenya currently operates outlets in Westlands, Kilimani, Ruaka, Narok, South C, Parklands, Spring Valley, and Karen, with Lavington and Thika Road among its latest additions. By situating stores in petrol station retail spaces and along major commuter routes, the brand is tapping into a familiar Nairobi reality—long commutes, busy schedules, and the growing demand for quick, reliable meal options.

According to the company, the strategy reflects a broader ambition to embed the brand into everyday routines while maintaining consistent product standards.

“Our quality begins with the basics,” said Olivia Oeri, Operations Lead, Papa John’s Kenya. “We make our dough fresh in-store, train our teams on a strong food safety culture, and follow clear specifications and product guidelines across our outlets to deliver that signature Papa John’s taste—consistently across our stores.”

The brand also highlights several elements it says define the Papa John’s experience globally, including its signature garlic dipping sauce and pepperoncini served alongside pizzas. Popular menu offerings such as the Spicy Chicken Ranch and Super Papa pizzas are positioned as standout favourites among customers.

In a market where food safety and transparency are increasingly top of mind, Papa John’s Kenya says it is reinforcing customer trust through strict operational discipline and visible safeguards. Delivery orders are sealed to assure customers that meals arrive safely and untampered.

“One of the simplest ways to build trust is to protect the product from the moment it leaves our hands,” added Oeri.

Papa John’s Kenya also notes that its menu offerings are halal-friendly, reinforcing its appeal to a broad and diverse customer base.

Beyond the product, the brand is leaning into the social role pizza plays in everyday life, particularly among families and young people.

“Pizza is designed for sharing. It’s part of how we connect—friends, colleagues, families,” said Ali. “That’s what Better Together means to us: more moments around the table, more spontaneous stops on the way home, and more reasons to gather.”

To attract new customers, Papa John’s Kenya is offering discounts on select top-selling pizzas at its newest outlets. The promotion runs at the Lavington outlet at Shell St. Austin Petrol Station until Sunday, and at the Thika Road outlet at Shell Service Station, just after Mountain Mall, until 7 February 2026.

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