Donatos Pizza

Donatos Pizza is an American pizza restaurant chain headquartered in Gahanna, Ohio, whose identity is closely associated with Columbus-style pizza. The company emphasizes a thin crust covered with toppings from edge to edge, a presentation that distinguishes its pizzas from chains that leave a broad uncovered outer rim. Its large pepperoni pizza is particularly notable for using more than 100 pepperoni slices. The business began in 1963, when Ohio State University sophomore Jim Grote purchased an existing restaurant on the south side of Columbus, Ohio, for $1,300. Grote had already worked at the restaurant since he was thirteen. He retained the Donatos name, which had originally been written with an apostrophe. The name derives from Donato, described by the company’s history as a conjugation of the Latin verb dono, meaning “to give.” Donatos expanded beyond its company-originated Columbus base through franchising. Its first franchise restaurant opened in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1991. By 2023, approximately three dozen franchisees operated more than 170 Donatos locations across twelve states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas. The broader system operated more than 400 stores in thirty U.S. states when franchise and partner activity were considered, and the brand was also present in nearly 300 non-traditional locations nationwide. The company experienced a significant ownership change in 1999, when McDonald’s acquired Donatos as part of an effort to enter the pizza category. McDonald’s later shifted its attention back toward its core business, and Jim Grote and his daughter Jane Grote Abell repurchased a majority interest in Donatos in 2003. Donatos also operated in Munich, Germany, during the McDonald’s ownership period, although its principal business remains in the United States. Product development has included multiple formats. In 2004, Donatos introduced take-and-bake pizza through Kroger supermarkets, extending the brand beyond restaurants and delivery. In 2009, it added a hand-tossed, pie-cut crust option alongside its established thin-crust offering. The company’s dough is produced in Ohio and distributed fresh to locations around the country, including partner restaurants. A major element of Donatos’ modern expansion has been its non-traditional restaurant strategy. In 2018, the chain partnered with Red Robin to serve Donatos pizza in selected Red Robin restaurants. The pizzas are prepared in Red Robin kitchens using Donatos dough and the brand’s operating methods. The arrangement began with four test locations in the summer of 2018 and had reached 25 restaurants by February 2020, with plans described at that time for substantially broader deployment. Donatos has also participated in food-technology investment. In 2017, Jim Grote led a $1 million seed round in BeeHex, a 3D-food-printing company with origins connected to NASA. In popular culture, Jane Grote Abell, identified as Donatos’ chairwoman and Grote’s daughter, appeared on an episode of Undercover Boss in 2013. The brand remains an active U.S. pizza operator combining company and franchise restaurants with supermarket and restaurant-partner channels.

Donatos Pizza traces its origins to Columbus, Ohio, where Jim Grote purchased the original Donatos restaurant in 1963 for $1,300 while he was an Ohio State University sophomore. Grote had worked at the restaurant since the age of thirteen and retained its existing name. The name had originally included an apostrophe and is associated with the Latin-rooted idea of giving. For much of its early development, Donatos was identified with the Columbus market and its distinctive local pizza style. The company’s signature format became a thin crust covered with toppings from edge to edge. Its large pepperoni pizza, carrying more than 100 pepperoni slices, became one of the clearest expressions of that positioning. Donatos later broadened its crust range: in 2009 it introduced a hand-tossed, pie-cut option while continuing to maintain its thin-crust identity. The company began franchising in 1991, when it opened a franchise location in Zanesville, Ohio. Franchising subsequently became an important part of the system. By 2023, around three dozen franchisees operated more than 170 Donatos Pizza locations in twelve states. The states identified in the company’s historical account were Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas. Across its wider store and partner network, Donatos operated in more than 400 stores in thirty U.S. states and was available in nearly 300 non-traditional locations. In 1999, McDonald’s acquired Donatos in an effort to establish a position in pizza. The ownership period formed part of McDonald’s broader experimentation outside its core hamburger business; Donatos also had operations in Munich, Germany, during this era. McDonald’s later decided to refocus on its principal business. In 2003, Grote and his daughter Jane Grote Abell repurchased a majority interest in Donatos, returning control to the founder’s family. Donatos extended its restaurant model into retail in 2004 through the introduction of take-and-bake pizzas at Kroger supermarkets. This gave customers a way to purchase branded pizza for preparation at home rather than ordering from a Donatos restaurant. The company also developed centralized production and distribution capabilities. Its dough is made at a facility in Ohio and shipped fresh to restaurants around the country. A later stage of expansion focused on non-traditional venues. In 2018, Donatos partnered with Red Robin after Red Robin had tested another pizza concept in one of its restaurants. Donatos began with four Red Robin locations in the summer of 2018. By February 2020, the brand was being served in 25 Red Robin restaurants, with plans then described to add many more locations. The operating model used Donatos dough and preparation standards while allowing the pizzas to be made in Red Robin kitchens, supported by the installation of pizza ovens. The brand has also shown interest in food innovation beyond conventional restaurant operations. In 2017, Jim Grote led a $1 million seed round in BeeHex, a 3D-food-printing company with NASA-related origins. In 2013, Jane Grote Abell appeared on Undercover Boss, bringing the family-owned company and its leadership into a mainstream television format. Donatos remains an active American pizza brand with a mix of restaurants, franchisees, supermarket products, and partner-based locations.

• 2018

  Red Robin partnership begins

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Donatos pizzas began appearing in selected Red Robin restaurants.

• 2017

  Investment in BeeHex

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Jim Grote led a $1 million seed round in food-printing company BeeHex.

• 2009

  Hand-tossed crust introduced

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The company added a hand-tossed, pie-cut crust option.

• 2004

  Take-and-bake pizza launches in Kroger

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Donatos entered supermarket retail with take-and-bake pizzas sold through Kroger.

• 2003

  Grote family repurchases a majority interest

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Jim Grote and Jane Grote Abell regained majority control after McDonald’s refocused on its core business.

• 1999

  McDonald’s acquires Donatos

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  McDonald’s acquired the chain while attempting to enter the pizza category.

• 1991

  First Donatos franchise opens

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The first franchise location opened in Zanesville, Ohio.

• 1963

  Jim Grote purchases the original Donatos restaurant

  [1]Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Ohio State sophomore Jim Grote purchased the Columbus restaurant for $1,300 and retained the Donatos name.

A Columbus-style pizza brand differentiated by thin crust, dense edge-to-edge toppings, and a highly recognizable pepperoni product. Donatos combines traditional restaurants and franchising with take-and-bake supermarket distribution and non-traditional partnerships.

• Pizza · 1963

  Edge-to-edge thin-crust pizza

  Donatos’ core product is a thin-crust pizza associated with Columbus-style pizza. Toppings are distributed across the pizza to the edge rather than concentrated in a central area with a large bare rim. This preparation is central to the brand’s visual identity and positioning. The product is available through Donatos restaurants and, in partner locations, is prepared according to the company’s operating standards.

• Pizza

  Large pepperoni pizza

  The large pepperoni pizza is one of Donatos’ best-known offerings. It is distinguished by an unusually dense topping pattern, with more than 100 pepperoni slices cited in the brand’s description. The product reinforces Donatos’ edge-to-edge promise and gives the chain a signature item that is recognizable beyond its general thin-crust category.

• Pizza · 2009

  Hand-tossed pizza

  Introduced in 2009, Donatos’ hand-tossed option broadened the chain’s crust selection beyond its established thin-crust format. It uses a pie-cut presentation and provides an alternative texture and eating experience for customers who prefer a thicker or more traditionally hand-shaped crust. The option complements rather than replaces the brand’s signature thin-crust positioning.

• Retail pizza · 2004

  Take-and-bake pizza

  Donatos introduced take-and-bake pizza through Kroger supermarkets in 2004. The format extended the brand into grocery retail, allowing customers to buy a prepared Donatos pizza for cooking at home. It represented an early move beyond the company’s restaurant and delivery channels and made the brand available in a different purchasing occasion.

• 2013Undercover Boss appearance

  United States

  Jane Grote Abell, Donatos’ chairwoman and the founder’s daughter, appeared on Undercover Boss, giving the family-led company national television exposure.

  Source

• 2018

  Scale the Red Robin non-traditional partnershipStrategy

  Background

  Donatos and Red Robin tested whether Donatos pizza could be integrated into Red Robin restaurants as a non-traditional location format.

  Action taken

  After an initial launch at four Red Robin restaurants, the partnership expanded to 25 restaurants by February 2020, with further expansion plans described at that time.

  Aftermath

  The model allowed Donatos to use Red Robin kitchens while supplying fresh dough from Ohio and applying Donatos preparation standards.

  Source

• 2009

  Add hand-tossed, pie-cut crustGeneration change

  Background

  The chain was known primarily for thin-crust pizza and sought to offer a broader crust choice.

  Action taken

  Donatos launched a hand-tossed pie-cut crust option.

  Aftermath

  The new format expanded the menu while leaving the edge-to-edge thin crust as a central brand characteristic.

  Source

• 2004

  Enter supermarket retail with take-and-bake pizzaProduct launch

  Background

  Donatos sought to extend its brand beyond restaurant-based ordering and consumption.

  Action taken

  The company introduced take-and-bake pizzas in Kroger supermarkets.

  Aftermath

  Donatos gained a grocery channel alongside its restaurant and delivery business.

  Source

• 2003

  Repurchase majority interest from McDonald’sM&A

  Background

  McDonald’s was moving away from its attempt to diversify into pizza and toward its core business.

  Action taken

  Jim Grote and Jane Grote Abell repurchased a majority interest in Donatos.

  Aftermath

  Control returned in majority part to the founder’s family, and Donatos continued as an independently operated pizza brand.

  Source

• 1999

  Accept McDonald’s acquisitionM&A

  Background

  McDonald’s was seeking to enter the pizza industry and acquired Donatos as part of that effort.

  Action taken

  Donatos became part of McDonald’s portfolio and operated under McDonald’s ownership.

  Aftermath

  McDonald’s later refocused on its core business, leading to the Grote family’s majority-interest repurchase in 2003.

  Source

1. 1Donatos Pizzaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Donatos Pizza official websitedonatos.com