Papa John’s Refranchises 28 Orlando Locations to Veteran Operator Wade Oney
Event summary
- Papa John’s has refranchised 28 Orlando-area restaurants to franchisee Wade Oney’s PZZA Group and Magic City Pizzerias.
- Oney now operates over 120 Papa John’s locations after adding 10 new restaurants in 2025 across Central and South Florida.
- Oney previously served as Papa John’s Chief Operations Officer for six years, helping grow the system to over 2,000 restaurants.
- The move aligns with Papa John’s broader strategy of refranchising corporate-owned locations to proven franchise partners.
The big picture
Papa John’s strategic refranchising of corporate-owned locations to experienced operators like Wade Oney reflects an industry-wide trend toward franchisee-led growth. This shift reduces capital expenditure for the company while leveraging the operational expertise of franchise partners. The move also underscores the importance of franchisee performance in maintaining brand consistency and customer satisfaction in competitive pizza markets.
What we're watching
- Franchisee Performance
- How Oney’s operational track record will impact the profitability and customer experience of the newly acquired Orlando locations.
- Refranchising Pace
- The speed at which Papa John’s continues to refranchise corporate-owned stores and the financial implications of these transactions.
- Market Expansion
- Whether Oney’s growth strategy in Central and South Florida signals broader opportunities for Papa John’s in high-demand urban markets.