Papa Murphy's
WHY I BOUGHT
When Ryan and Stephanie Humphrey first came across Papa Murphy’s take ‘n’ bake pizza concept, they weren’t sure what to think. While they had consistently heard rave reviews from Ryan’s parents—who were loyal customers in Evansville, Indiana—they weren’t sure how they felt about baking their own hand-crafted pizza at home. So they set out to try it for themselves.
As soon as the Humphreys took their first bite, they were hooked. Papa Murphy’s fresh dough, 100% whole-milk mozzarella, hand-sliced veggies were impossible to beat—the couple knew the brand was on to something special. That’s why they decided to take their love for the Papa Murphy’s brand a step further by looking into franchising opportunities.
“We found Papa Murphy’s at the perfect time. Stephanie was ready to take the next step in her career, and we had always wanted to open up our own business,” said Ryan. “After talking to a few other Papa Murphy’s franchisees, we knew it was the right opportunity for us. Everything fell into place, from the financing to the delicious product.”
The Humphreys opened their first Papa Murphy’s location back in 2010 in Wilmington, North Carolina, and have been growing with the brand ever since. The concept really took off with consumers in the area—Papa Murphy’s provides them with a top-quality meal that doesn’t break the bank. And its unique take ‘n’ bake business model is something that helps Ryan and Stephanie manage the costs of owning their own business.
“We knew that if we could get the word out about Papa Murphy’s and drive repeat customers through the door, this concept could really work in Wilmington. We were definitely right—we couldn’t have asked for a better response,” said Ryan. “We also couldn’t have done it without the help and support of Papa Murphy’s corporate team. They were instrumental in getting our business off the ground.”