Donatos Pizza, the pizza franchise known for using an abundance of toppings, is closing 2024 on a high note, a press release from the brand stated.
Donatos underwent transformational leadership changes in 2024, ones that helped lay the groundwork for ambitious plans into the future. In May, the brand announced that Kevin King, who had served as the brand’s President, would be replacing outgoing CEO Tom Krouse in October. Krouse, who had served as CEO since 2010, was retiring.
“Kevin’s deep understanding of our mission and family values, coupled with his unwavering commitment to supporting our associates and franchise partners, makes him the perfect leader to guide Donatos Pizza into the future,” said Jane Grote, Donatos Pizza’s chief purpose officer and the brand’s chairwoman of the board. “His ability to foster collaboration, inspire growth, and prioritize the well-being of our team reflects the heart of what we stand for.”
Related: ‘The Pizza Wars Are Back,’ Says Donatos CEO. Here’s His Plan to Win Them.
Jim Grote, Donatos Pizza’s founder, echoed this sentiment: “Kevin has been part of the Donatos family in every sense of the word,” Grote said. “His passion for people, our culture, and our commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with the principles we’ve upheld for over 60 years. I trust him completely to carry this brand forward and ensure our values and vision remain strong as we grow.”
Under King’s leadership, Donatos Pizza is closing out 2024 with new restaurant openings in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, as well as announcing several new multi-unit development deals. The brand said this was emblematic of a year of growth, innovation and a teaser of its bold vision for 2025. As CEO and President, King plans on leveraging Donatos Pizza’s strong foundation of family values, innovation, and franchise partner support to further expand the brand’s reach nationwide.
“I’m honored to lead Donatos at this exciting time in the brand’s journey,” King said. “Our commitment to quality, community, and franchise partner success remains at the heart of everything we do. I am continually inspired by the dedication of our associates, the passion of our franchise partners, and the support of the communities we serve. Together, we will build on the incredible foundation that Jim, Jane, and the team have created, ensuring Donatos continues to grow while staying true to the values that define us.”
In 2024 alone, Donatos Pizza signed agreements with eight new multi-unit development groups, further expanding the brand’s national footprint into North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas, alongside growth in South Carolina, Florida, and Maryland. These expansions included new store openings in Naples, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.
“We’ve seen steady growth across target markets this year, and Texas has emerged as a key focus for future expansion,” said Jeff Baldwin, VP of Development and Franchising for Donatos Pizza. “We look forward to building on this momentum going into 2025, bringing Donatos Pizza to even more communities nationwide.”
According to Donatos Pizza, innovation remains at the core of its success. The brand has embraced technological advancements, installing the Sm^rt Saucer—a device that automates the pizza-saucing process—in all company locations, rolling out an AI-powered call system across the franchise network, and continued work on a groundbreaking, fully automated pizza kitchen in partnership with Appetronix. That is set to launch in the first quarter of 2025.
The brand said its menu innovation team has also been instrumental in driving customer satisfaction, introducing limited-time and permanent menu items including Mariachi Cheese Bread, Italian Cheese Bread, Stuffed Crust Pizza, the Calzato and Bakery Crust Pizza. The brands believes these offerings have resonated with Gen Zers, Millennials and families alike, while the December introduction of the Italian Meatball & Sausage Pizza, crafted from original family recipes, emphasizes the brand’s long-standing commitment to quality and tradition.
Donatos Pizza was founded by Jim Grote in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio—still site of the brand’s headquarters—and remains a family-owned business. Donatos has over 175 stores, in addition to nearly 300 non-traditional locations, including those located in select Red Robin restaurants due to an ongoing partnership between the two brands.
