1851's Most Innovative Franchises in 2026: Donatos Pizza

Innovation in the pizza industry often centers on new menu items or limited-time promotions. Donatos Pizza has taken a broader approach. For more than 60 years, the brand has refined nearly every part of its business, from how its pizzas are made to how restaurants operate behind the scenes, while staying committed to the values that shaped the company from the beginning.

That combination of operational discipline, technology and people-first leadership has helped Donatos continue growing in a crowded restaurant category. Rather than chasing trends, the company has focused on making a proven model more efficient for franchise partners while preserving the product quality and culture that have defined the brand for decades.

A Brand Built on Purpose

Donatos traces its roots to 1963, when founder Jim Grote purchased a small Columbus, Ohio, pizza shop for $1,300 while attending Ohio State University. He kept the name, derived from the Latin phrase meaning "to give a good thing," and built the company around three principles: making the best pizza, hiring great people and promoting goodwill in the community. Those ideas continue to shape the brand today.

That sense of purpose still shapes how Donatos grows. The company looks for franchise partners who believe in the brand’s culture and want to build the business for the long term.

Innovation Beyond the Menu

Donatos is best known for its Edge to Edge® toppings and consistent product standards, but much of the company's innovation happens behind the scenes.

More than 50 company-owned restaurants serve as testing grounds for new technology, operational improvements and menu development before changes are introduced across the franchise system. The company also manufactures its proprietary pizza dough centrally, uses precise ingredient weights and bake times to promote consistency and continually evaluates new menu offerings through a dedicated innovation team.

Technology plays an equally important role. Donatos has invested in predictive delivery tools, digital ordering, flexible restaurant prototypes and automation designed to improve efficiency while allowing restaurant teams to focus more attention on guests. The company has also collaborated with Agápe Automation and the Edge Innovation Hub to develop restaurant automation solutions aimed at improving operations without sacrificing quality.

"For a brand to be a true innovator and game-changer, you don't wait around for other people to come up with all the good ideas," said CEO Kevin King. "We are still creating new, innovative ideas that will disrupt the pizza scene. We are big on value, and subsequently, guests have come to expect more from us. It's crucial to find ways to deliver more, whether it is implementing automation to enhance consistency and efficiency, or maximizing face-to-face interactions with guests. To be the best, you must deliver the best."

Supporting Franchise Partners Through Proven Systems

Donatos' innovation also extends to how it supports franchise owners.

Instead of asking franchisees to develop their own operating procedures, the company provides standardized systems built over decades of operating company restaurants. Kitchen layouts are designed for efficiency during peak periods, digital tools help forecast delivery demand and flexible restaurant formats, including drive-up windows, accommodate changing consumer preferences.

Donatos tests new ideas in its company-owned restaurants before rolling them out to franchisees. That gives operators a chance to adopt changes that have already been used in active restaurants, while the brand continues refining the model over time.

Why Donatos Pizza Stands Out

Many restaurant brands innovate by introducing new menu items or promotional campaigns. Donatos has focused on improving the systems behind the guest experience, combining operational consistency, automation, centralized production and a purpose-driven culture that has remained remarkably consistent since the company's founding.

That balance between tradition and continuous improvement is what makes Donatos Pizza one of 1851 Franchise's Most Innovative Franchise Concepts. As the brand continues expanding into new markets, it is building on a foundation that values both technological advancement and the relationships that have always been at the heart of the business.

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the month for 1851 Franchise's full Innovative Franchise Concepts series to explore the other innovative brands making waves in the industry.