MANAGING director of the Papa John’s Pizza franchise in Trinidad and Tobago, medical doctor Harry Singh, has placed all six stores and a production centre in the island on the market for sale, stating that the Singh family is no longer in the position to expand the franchise as needed.

   Singh owns the franchise through master franchise group Elysians Limited which opened its first store in 2004.

   The doctor told the Jamaica Observer that his medical career makes it harder for him to run the business. He has placed ads for buyers in the Jamaican market as well.

   “My sons are involved in other aspects of the family business,” he stated, noting that they were taken up with demands of Physician’s Pharmaceuticals Limited, also owned by the family.

   Singh is selling the entire Papa John operation. He declined to state the asking price, saying this will be discussed with interested individuals only.

   The new franchisee will have the option of expanding into the lesser Caribbean, for which his company also holds the franchise as well, he said.

   With the tagline “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza,” the Papa John menu features vegetarian to all meats, and sides including cookies and cheese strips.

   As indicated online, the Island Spice pizza features freshly diced tomatoes, green peppers, pineapple, crushed red pepper and Papa John’s signature garlic sauce; the Amigos pizza is topped with ground beef, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and jalapeno peppers; and the Marinera pizza with tuna, onions and green peppers. Ice cream and beverages, including sodas, juices and coffee, are also offered.

   Singh said that the store specialised in fresh and specially made ingredients.

   The six stores and production centre has an average annual turnover of TT $23 million (US$1 =TT$6.48), Singh said. Papa John’s in Trinidad and Tobago employs 80 workers company wide.

   Profit margins run to about 25 per cent after tax, he said.

   The stores are located in Gulf City, Chaguanas, Curepe, El Socorro, St James, and Maraval.

   Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John’s International, Inc is cited by Singh as the fastest-growing pizza company in the US, with restaurants now numbering over 4,000.