In the second quarter of 2021, Donatos Pizza was added to 41 Red Robin locations, including restaurants in six new states: Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Donatos Pizza was also added to Red Robin locations in Arizona and its founding market of Seattle. The partnership will expand to several East Coast Red Robin restaurants in Maryland and Virginia in the third quarter followed by a California expansion later this year. All told, Red Robin plans to add Donatos Pizza to approximately 120 additional restaurants by the end of 2021, resulting in more than 200 locations.
“Our continued market rollout featuring Donatos pizza as yet another family-friendly menu offering has been well-received by guests,” says Jonathan Muhtar, Red Robin executive vice president and chief concept officer. “Our Donatos locations consistently out-perform our non-pizza restaurants and we continue to be pleased with sales in our newest markets.”
Donatos pizza will be available in restaurants for dine in and for pickup or delivery through the Red Robin website, marking a key element in Red Robin’s efforts to cater to more off-premises diners. “Our partnership with Red Robin has allowed us to open our distribution line across the entire country,” says Tom Krouse, president and CEO of Donatos Pizza. The introduction of a limited-time Donatos cauliflower crust menu option in Q1 was so popular it became a permanent menu item.
Donatos Pizza anticipates annual pizza sales of more than $60 million and profitability of more than $25 million by 2023 via this partnership, per a release.