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Donatos—despite everything 2022 decided to throw at the restaurant industry—managed to open more than 55 locations across the U.S. Jeff Baldwin, vice president of development and franchising, says success lies in a multi-faceted strategy to put the pizza chain in front of consumers traditionally and nontraditionally. The most significant part of that plan is Donatos’ years-long rollout into Red Robin restaurants nationwide.
Red Robin plans to bring Donatos to about 120 locations in 2021. When Red Robin contacted Donatos Pizza roughly two years ago, the Ohio-based brand, understandably, proceeded with some caution. The chain was deep into its own growth prospects and recalled a brief, yet erratic run under the colossal umbrella of McDonald’s Corporation. Donatos, founded in 1963 when Ohio State sophomore Jim Grote bought a small pizza shop in Columbus, Ohio, from a seminarian for $1,300, was acquired by the fast-food giant in 1999. At the time, McDonald’s was exploring life outside burgers. It made an investm...