Papa John’s has announced the launch of the new Shaq-A-Roni pizza which is in collaboration with board member and restaurant owner Shaquille O’Neal. The pizza has been designed to be a bigger pizza experience, and Papa John’s will also donate one dollar for every Shaq-A-Roni sold through August 23, 2020, to the Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community.
“It was important to me for the Shaq-a-Roni to be bigger than just pizza. By giving my new pie a try, one dollar will be donated to The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community to support COVID-19 relief, the fight against racial injustice, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and general community involvement,” said Shaquille O’Neal, Papa John’s Board Member and franchise owner.
This new pizza was, according to the Papa John’s press release, conceived by O’Neal himself. The Shaq-A-Roni is an extra-large pizza topped with extra cheese and extra pepperoni, which is cut into the brand’s largest slice to date.
“From the work of The Papa John’s Foundation to the efforts of our local franchisees and team members, Papa John’s is committed to supporting our communities, especially during this challenging time in our country,” said Rob Lynch, President and CEO of Papa John’s. “We’re excited to combine all the best ingredients for coming together in support of our neighbors - a Shaq-sized pizza, topped with extra ingredients, with a donation from every purchase going back into our communities.”
The Shaq-A-Roni also comes with an exclusive Snapchat AR experience for those that order the pizza. Using the social media app, customers can point their camera at the pizza box to reveal a 3-D surprise. In July, Papa John’s plans to unveil more AR surprises across its social channels.
According to this press release, “The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community benefits organizations like UNCF and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which has been a Papa John’s Foundation grantee since 2019. Last year, Papa John’s partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the company’s inaugural national day of service and continues to engage with the organization through ongoing initiatives, such as the Youth of the Year celebrations. This year, Papa John’s has committed $500,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help fund leadership development programs and the learning experience for youth and communities, and a two-year grant of $500,000 to UNCF to support their mission to provide equal access to college education.”