A businessman who made his name in the building and repairing of ships is forecasting that franchising will go down a storm after signing a multi-store agreement with Papa John’s.

Entrepreneur Richard Anderson, whose current business is based near Glasgow, has struck the deal with the American pizza experts after seeing details of their stunning new store design.

The agreement will allow Mr Anderson’s company, Greenbank Holdings, to exclusively open Papa John’s stores between Ayrshire and Cumbernauld. – a prospect which the businessman is relishing.

He said: “Moving into franchising has been purely a commercial decision in the same way that any other business venture or investment would be, I do not have a background in it.

“Business is about looking at different markets and seeing where future success lies, it is no secret that the shipping industry is on the decline in the UK and I have been investigating other options.

“Franchising is something I have looked at for some time and have been waiting for the right opportunity to come along – when I saw the Papa John’s new store design and met the new management team I was convinced this was it.”

Although Papa John’s already operates over 80 stores in the UK, Mr Anderson believes people are witnessing the beginning of a new dawn for the company.

He said: “In my business life I have always tried to find good prospects and get in from the beginning, and in one sense I feel that this is exactly the situation Papa John’s are in.

“With their new team and great new ideas within the market they are ready to mirror their USA operation and become a really dominant force – I want to be part of that.

“There are still vast opportunities within the Scottish pizza market and having tasted the Papa John’s product I know this is the brand to take advantage of them.”

The agreement has been negotiated by Papa John’s Franchise Sales Manager Robin Arkle who believes that the news is a glowing endorsement of the new store design. “We are all delighted to have Greenbank Holdings on board because it shows that top calibre operators looking for sound investments are looking for Papa John’s.

“Getting greater coverage in Scotland will increase our brand profile and power and will allow many more people to see the store, and more importantly, taste the product.

“I firmly believe this could be the catalyst for a real kick-start to Papa John’s in the UK.”

Papa John’s recently unveiled a ground-breaking new store design which is set to shape the future of take-away and delivery restaurants.

The new Papa John’s store is the culmination of extensive planning and development and has put a new emphasis on product differentiation and design in order to stand out in an increasingly ‘me-too’ market.

Papa John’s new management team has taken steps to explode the myth that premises are not key to take-away and delivery businesses, by investing heavily in a new look to appeal to the consumer – and the potential franchisee.

Marketing Director Chris Macleod, believes the recruitment of Greenbank shows that the company has stolen a march on its rivals.

He said: “Greenbank have specifically said that one of the key attractions was the innovation of the new store design and the fact that it would be embraced by customers. “In the past delivery oriented stores have placed little emphasis on the appearance of their premises and the messages that they convey to the passing consumer.

“It has always quite rightly been the case that the product is the hero, but the store also reflects what the company stands for and is positioned in the marketplace – so we have created a design which does just that.