Latest news with #PapaJohn's
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
South Africans spending $1.4m Crypto a year on everyday shopping
To the vast majority of users, cryptocurrency is seen as an investment or trading vehicle. Bitcoin is popular for its potential long-term gains, while smaller coins are commonly used by speculators looking to make sizeable gains from lesser-known cryptocurrencies. However, cryptocurrency wasn't set up as a form of investment. It was designed to operate as a means of transferring value. Its first official use was to buy pizzas, and this was in closer keeping with Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto's vision. Cryptocurrency Popularity Cryptocurrency has become popular as a store of value, as well as an investment. It is also becoming increasingly popular as a method of paying for goods and services, although only really in some restricted jurisdictions. But, it has become popular for online payments and in the iGaming and sports betting world. Cryptocurrency can be used to facilitate fast payout sportsbooks online, thanks to rapid transaction times. According to online gambling expert Brett Curtis, payments can be completed within a matter of minutes, sometimes instantly, rather than several business days, which is how long it takes with some traditional payment methods like credit cards. South African Crypto Usage While it has not become a mainstream form of payment in any country, some areas do find considerable use for cryptocurrency as a payment method. In South Africa, it has been reported that residents have spent an average of $112,000 a month since November 2024 on groceries and other everyday items. Satoshi's Vision Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. In Bitcoin's 2008 whitepaper, Satoshi described Bitcoin as 'a purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash [that] would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.' In the same year as its launch, the first Bitcoin exchange rate was offered, and in 2010, Satoshi saw his dream of a decentralized payment method realized when software developer Laszlo Hanyecz bought two Papa John's pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins. At the time, that equated to around $41. At today's exchange rate, the pizzas cost $600m each. Bitcoin enthusiasts now celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22 to mark the occasion. However, while Satoshi envisioned a world in which users would be able to send Bitcoin easily to one another and spend cryptocurrency in shops and at other businesses, it took some time for organizations to work out how best to deal with incoming Bitcoin. Early Crypto Challenges Cryptocurrency has unique requirements for vendors and businesses, and this was especially true in the technology's early days. Whereas payment gateways exist now that will convert crypto payments to local currencies before depositing them into the business's account, this hasn't always been the case. Originally, retailers needed crypto wallets and would have to accept payments the same as any individual accepting a Bitcoin transfer from another party. In 2014, however, online retailer Overstock started accepting Bitcoin payments. In January of that year, it accepted Bitcoin payments from US customers, and in September, it rolled the service out to its customers around the globe. At the time, Overstock founder and CEO Patrick Byrne said: 'As long as you can get on the internet, you can order and pay in bitcoin. You can order in North Korea if you want – as long as you're having things delivered to, say, Singapore.' NewEgg and TigerDirect also started accepting Bitcoin payments in the same year, and companies around the globe started to follow suit. The Potential To Serve Unbanked Citizens Bitcoin has long been heralded as having the potential to serve the approximately 1.5 billion unbanked citizens of the world. Unbanked citizens are people with no basic banking services, which can make it impossible to even receive a monthly salary, and can make it difficult to pay for anything from groceries to utility bills and rent. It is estimated that around 23.5% of South Africa's population is unbanked, with many more underbanked, meaning they have severely limited banking functionality. This means around 12 million South Africans do not have access to what many people consider basic financial services. This high ratio of unbanked citizens is one possible reason why South Africa has seen a significant uptick in the number of people using cryptocurrency and the total revenue of crypto purchases. Luno Pay In South Africa Crypto payment platform, Luno Pay, launched a retail payment tool in November 2024 and has said that users have spent a combined $1.1m in cryptocurrency since then. Payments have been used to buy flights, furniture, food, and many other items and services. The company also reported last year that 31,000 retailers in the country accepted cryptocurrency, and this figure has likely risen in the 8 months since the announcement. It's worth noting that while Luno Pay is the most significant crypto payment platform in South Africa, other crypto payment options do exist. Therefore, the figure has been estimated at around $1.4m, which will include direct wallet-to-wallet payments as well as the use of other platforms, and even exchanges. When it comes to exchanges, South Africa's most popular has a recognizable look. Binance and Coinbase lead the way, with the likes of eToro, Kraken, and Gemini also featuring high on the list. South Africa's Crypto Usage It is estimated that nearly 10% of South Africans have or hold some cryptocurrency, which is higher than 7% of the global population estimate. These figures continue to increase, especially as BTC prices continue to rise and as countries and banks around the world wrestle with regulatory frameworks. The SARB And CBDCs The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has initiated its own investigation into Central Bank Digital Currencies, for example. CBDCs are digital currencies that bear some similarities to cryptocurrencies. They operate on blockchain networks and are spent, sent, and received similarly to the likes of Bitcoin. But where cryptocurrency is decentralized, CBDCs are digital equivalents to local currencies, and they still have the backing and administrative support of central banks. The SARB has not definitively indicated its intention to launch a CBDC, but it is likely to follow other countries that launch their own digital currencies. The Implications on The Crypto Market As South Africa and the rest of the African market continue to increase their crypto spending, it naturally means an increase in crypto acquisitions. This means more money will flow into the cryptocurrency market, not only causing likely price increases for the likes of Bitcoin but also ensuring greater liquidity and even price stability for the market as a whole.
Japan Today
15-07-2025
- General
- Japan Today
3 basic ingredients, a million possibilities: How small pizzerias succeed in an age of chain restaurants
By Paula de la Cruz-Fernández and Avi Ackerman t its heart, pizza is deceptively simple. Made from just a few humble ingredients – baked dough, tangy sauce, melted cheese and maybe a few toppings – it might seem like a perfect candidate for the kind of mass-produced standardization that defines many global food chains, where predictable menus reign supreme. Yet, visit two pizzerias in different towns – or even on different blocks of the same town – and you'll find that pizza stubbornly refuses to be homogenized. We are researchers working on a local business history project that documents the commercial landscape of Gainesville, Florida, in the 20th and 21st centuries. As part of that project, we've spent a great many hours over the past two years interviewing local restaurant owners, especially those behind Gainesville's independent pizzerias. What we've found reaffirms a powerful truth: Pizza resists sameness – and small pizzerias are a big reason why. Why standardized pizza rose but didn't conquer While tomatoes were unknown in Italy until the mid-16th century, they have since become synonymous with Italian cuisine – especially through pizza. Pizza arrived in the U.S. from Naples in the early 20th century, when Italian immigration was at its peak. Two of the biggest destinations for Italian immigrants were New York City and Chicago, and today each has a distinctive pizza style. A New York slice can easily be identified by its thin, soft, foldable crust, while Chicago pies are known for deep, thick, buttery crusts. After World War II, other regions developed their own types of pizza, including the famed New Haven and Detroit styles. The New Haven style is known for being thin, crispy and charred in a coal-fired oven, while the Detroit style has a rectangular, deep-dish shape and thick, buttery crust. By the latter half of the 20th century, pizza had become a staple of the American diet. And as its popularity grew, so did demand for consistent, affordable pizza joints. Chains such as Pizza Hut, founded in 1958, and Papa John's, established in 1984, applied the model pioneered by McDonalds in the late 1940s, adopting limited menus, assembly line kitchens and franchise models built for consistency and scale. New technologies such as point-of-sale systems and inventory management software made things even more efficient. As food historian Carol Helstosky explains in 'Pizza: A Global History,' the transformation involved simplifying recipes, ensuring consistent quality and developing formats optimized for rapid expansion and franchising. What began as a handcrafted, regional dish became a highly replicable product suited to global mass markets. Today, more than 20,000 Pizza Huts operate worldwide. Papa John's, which runs about 6,000 pizzerias, built its brand explicitly on a promise rooted in standardization. In this model, success means making pizza the same way, everywhere, every time. So, what happened to the independent pizzerias? Did they get swallowed up by efficiency? Not quite. Chain restaurants don't necessarily suffocate small competitors, recent research shows. In fact, in the case of pizza, they often coexist, sometimes even fueling creativity and opportunity. Independent pizzerias – there are more than 44,000 nationwide – lean into what makes them unique, carving out a niche. Rather than focusing only on speed or price, they compete by offering character, inventive toppings, personal service and a sense of place that chains just can't replicate. A local pizza scene: Creativity in a corporate age For an example, look no farther than Gainesville. A college town with fewer than 150,000 residents, Gainesville doesn't have the same culinary cache as New York or Chicago, but it has developed a very unique pizza scene. With 13 independent pizzerias serving Neapolitan, Detroit, New York and Mediterranean styles and more, hungry Gators have a plethora of options when craving a slice. What makes Gainesville's pizza scene especially interesting is the range of backgrounds its proprietors have. Through interviews with pizzeria owners, we found that some had started as artists and musicians, while others had worked in engineering or education – and each had their own unique approach to making pizzas. The owner of Strega Nona's Oven, for example, uses his engineering background to turn dough-making into a science, altering the proportions of ingredients by as little as half of a percent based on the season or even the weather. Satchel's Pizza, on the other hand, is filled with works made by its artist owner, including mosaic windows, paintings, sculptures and fountains. Gainesville's independent pizzerias often serve as what sociologists call 'third places': spaces for gathering that aren't home or work. And their owners think carefully about how to create a welcoming environment. For example, the owner of Scuola Pizza insisted the restaurant be free of TVs, so diners can focus on their food. Squarehouse Pizza features a large outdoor space; an old, now repurposed school bus outfitted with tables and chairs to dine in, and a stage for live music. Squarehouse also is known for its unusual toppings on square, Detroit-style pies – for example, the Mariah Curry, topped with curry chicken or cauliflower and coconut curry sauce. It refreshes its specialty menus every semester or two. While the American pizza landscape may be shaped by big brands and standardized menus, small pizzerias continue to shine. Gainesville is a perfect example of how a local pizza scene in a small Southern college town can be so unique, even in a globalized industry. Small pizzerias don't just offer food – they offer a flavorful reminder that the marketplace rewards distinctiveness and local character, too. Paula de la Cruz-Fernández is Cultural Digital Collections Manager, University of Florida. Avi Ackerman is Researcher, Inquire Capitalism UF, University of Florida. The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. External Link © The Conversation
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Little Caesars Announces Major Change to Menu
Little Caesars is doubling down on its reputation as the best value pizza chain by launching a nationwide "More for $9.99 Menu," packed with mix-and-match options to appeal to families, budget-conscious diners, and loyal fans. The new pricing platform, available exclusively online at participating locations, launched on July 7. It includes options that pair traditional favorites with newer items like the Fantastic Four-N-One Pizza and Crazy Puffs. The chain says each bundle includes at least two of its most popular menu items, with combinations ranging from two large classic pizzas, to a pretzel crust pizza with Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce. This pricing strategy comes amid continued consumer sensitivity to inflation and rising fast food prices. Little Caesars is seeking to differentiate itself in a crowded marketplace where major rivals such as Domino's and Papa John's are also offering a variety of cost-saving deals. Little Caesars was ranked the fourth best pizza brand by industry magazine PMQ Pizza in its Pizza Power Report 2024, behind Domino's, Pizza Hut and Papa John's. According to a 2024 report by Datassential, a food and beverage market-research company, Little Caesars was named the most affordable restaurant chain in America. In the survey, 72 percent of diners rated it highly for affordability, outperforming other budget-centric chains like Freshii (65 percent), Papa Murphy's (64 percent), Cici's Pizza (62 percent), and Pollo Tropical (59 percent). Each combo offers at least two products from Little Caesars' lineup, including: Two large classic cheese or pepperoni pizzas (or one of each)One classic pepperoni pizza with Crazy PuffsThe new Fantastic Four-N-One Pizza paired with a Crazy Combo (Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce)Pretzel Crust Pizza with a Crazy ComboA party pack of twelve Crazy Puffs, available in cheese, pepperoni, or a mix There are no minimum purchase requirements and no coupons needed. Greg Hamilton, CMO at Little Caesars, said: "As the value leader in pizza, we don't follow trends - we set them. Our new $9.99 menu is a bold move that provides unbeatable variety and flavor at a price that speaks for itself." With the menu only available through early August, it remains unclear whether Little Caesars plans to extend or expand the deal beyond the current promotional window. But its success could influence future strategy. Until July 31, Newsweek readers can vote for their favorite pizza chain in our Readers' Choice Awards. Winners will be announced on August 7. Related Articles Little Caesars Sponsoring NFL Sparks Jokes From Twitter UsersEx-Little Caesars Worker Shoots Manager After Not Getting Job Back: PoliceCustomer Slaps, Calls Teenage Little Caesars Employee Racial SlurEmployees Entertain Baby After Manager Brings Her to Work in Adorable Video 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Little Caesars Announces Major Change to Menu
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Little Caesars is doubling down on its reputation as the best value pizza chain by launching a nationwide "More for $9.99 Menu," packed with mix-and-match options to appeal to families, budget-conscious diners, and loyal fans. The new pricing platform, available exclusively online at participating locations, launched on July 7. It includes options that pair traditional favorites with newer items like the Fantastic Four-N-One Pizza and Crazy Puffs. The chain says each bundle includes at least two of its most popular menu items, with combinations ranging from two large classic pizzas, to a pretzel crust pizza with Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce. Stock image. A Little Caesars restaurant in Los Angeles, California, in 2024. Stock image. A Little Caesars restaurant in Los Angeles, California, in 2024.) Why It Matters This pricing strategy comes amid continued consumer sensitivity to inflation and rising fast food prices. Little Caesars is seeking to differentiate itself in a crowded marketplace where major rivals such as Domino's and Papa John's are also offering a variety of cost-saving deals. Little Caesars was ranked the fourth best pizza brand by industry magazine PMQ Pizza in its Pizza Power Report 2024, behind Domino's, Pizza Hut and Papa John's. According to a 2024 report by Datassential, a food and beverage market-research company, Little Caesars was named the most affordable restaurant chain in America. In the survey, 72 percent of diners rated it highly for affordability, outperforming other budget-centric chains like Freshii (65 percent), Papa Murphy's (64 percent), Cici's Pizza (62 percent), and Pollo Tropical (59 percent). Promotional image of the 'More for $9.99 Menu' deal from Little Caesars. Promotional image of the 'More for $9.99 Menu' deal from Little Caesars. Little Caesars What To Know Each combo offers at least two products from Little Caesars' lineup, including: Two large classic cheese or pepperoni pizzas (or one of each) One classic pepperoni pizza with Crazy Puffs The new Fantastic Four-N-One Pizza paired with a Crazy Combo (Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce) Pretzel Crust Pizza with a Crazy Combo A party pack of twelve Crazy Puffs, available in cheese, pepperoni, or a mix There are no minimum purchase requirements and no coupons needed. What People Are Saying Greg Hamilton, CMO at Little Caesars, said: "As the value leader in pizza, we don't follow trends — we set them. Our new $9.99 menu is a bold move that provides unbeatable variety and flavor at a price that speaks for itself." What Happens Next With the menu only available through early August, it remains unclear whether Little Caesars plans to extend or expand the deal beyond the current promotional window. But its success could influence future strategy. Until July 31, Newsweek readers can vote for their favorite pizza chain in our Readers' Choice Awards. Winners will be announced on August 7.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Daytona Beach mass shooting reports: Shots fired near South Turn Restaurant, witnesses say
Jun 21, 2025 09:47 AM IST Witnesses are claiming that a mass shooting took place Friday near the South Turn Lounge & Restaurant, Daytona Beach, Florida. The restaurant is located near the intersection of Beville Road and Nova Road. According to multiple unconfirmed reports, the incident occurred in the parking lot shared with a nearby Papa John's restaurant. Witnesses are claiming that a shooting took place near the South Turn Lounge & Restaurant, Daytona Beach.(UnSplash) At least three people were reportedly shot, with some witnesses stating the suspect was a man driving a white pickup truck who fled the scene immediately after the shooting. All reports remain unverified, and law enforcement has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident. One Facebook user wrote, 'My son was just driving by there said they have it all blocked off. He couldn't even get around. He had to detour like crazy.' Another reported, 'Daytona has 3 people shot in the Papa John's parking lot at Beville and Nova. All shot in lower extremities. A guy in white pick up truck shot then fled down Beville.' Photos circulating on social media show a significant police presence in the area. This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information
