Leading Pizza franchise, Papa John’s, has announced new franchisee and champion Power Lifter, Richard Goddard, has opened his first Papa John’s store in Carlisle. Richard who has recruited 20 staff will now manage the outlet which, uniquely, is just six miles from the Scottish boarder, making it the furthest North store in England.

Richard Goddard who previously worked in the IT industry said: “I was looking for a change. The Papa John’s product is fantastic and I respect the power of the brand, this is what first attracted me to the franchise. The company is up and coming and is destined to be big in the UK and I wanted to be part of that.”

Richard who became a World Champion in Power Lifting in Boston in 2012 continues: “My ability as a Power Lifter and Strongman shows I am able to work hard to succeed and I love to try new challenges. I have lived in Carlisle for most of my life and the area has around 40,000 households so it is a strong choice of location. I am very much looking forward to introducing some weighty marketing support to promote my Papa John’s to the local community: I just know they will love it!”

Richard bought the Carlisle franchise as part of the company’s Enterprise Development incentive. Richard comments: “My mind was already made up so the financial incentive that Papa John’s offered was such a bonus. I am already looking forward to the future and perhaps really lifting the potential of the franchise by opening more stores with Papa John’s help.”

Papa John’s offers incentives for new franchisees looking to following in Richard’s footsteps: For new stores opening in Wales, The Midlands, North East, The North West and Scotland Papa John’s is offering a royalty break for stores opening before the end of 2014. The Company will also supply deals on equipment, plus marketing spend for the store opening launch. These deals are only available for 2014 and are limited, so first come first served!

Papa John’s is one of the largest pizza companies in the world, with more than 4,450 stores worldwide and is rapidly expanding in 36 markets around the globe. Papa John’s, which is renowned for its product quality, has opportunities for potential franchisees throughout the UK including the key locations of the South East, Yorkshire, Manchester, West Midlands, East Midlands, South West, North East, Wales & Scotland.