Franchise powerhouse from pizza delivery driver – Nadeem Bajwa aims for 500 restaurants

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 08. 29. 10:37

Nadeem Bajwa arrived in the United States from Pakistan in 1991. The young man began his studies at a university in Indiana while working various jobs to support himself. One of these jobs was delivering pizzas for Papa John’s at $4.25 an hour. More than three decades later, Bajwa is one of the largest franchise owners in the North American network, with over 270 Papa John’s restaurants. He is also the CEO of the Bajco Group, which he co-founded with his brothers, and whose portfolio includes not only restaurants but also construction, technology and accounting firms. The success story was reported by Telex.

From difficult beginnings to management

Bajwa was the first in his family to move to the United States – he had never even been on a plane before. At first, he did not speak fluent English, and the initial period proved especially difficult. One summer, he worked three jobs at once: washing dishes in the morning, delivering pizzas in the afternoon, and working nights at Taco Bell.

His perseverance paid off: by the time he graduated in 1996, he was already a district manager at Papa John’s. Although he applied to other major companies, the pizza chain offered him higher earnings, so he stayed. He first worked as a restaurant manager before becoming a franchise owner.

The first restaurant

In the summer of 2002, with family support and a bank loan, he opened his first restaurant in East Liverpool, Ohio. He significantly reduced costs by buying second-hand equipment at good prices and carrying out much of the renovation work himself.

The opening, however, was not without setbacks: the large advertising campaign drew huge crowds, but the staff training had been neglected. “We attracted too many people, but I hadn’t focused enough on training my staff. I learned how important it is to be truly ready,” he recalled.

Six months later, revenues were already exceeding expectations, prompting Bajwa to start opening more stores.

Future plans

Today he operates more than 270 Papa John’s restaurants, and in 2024 he signed a new agreement with the chain to open another 50 units by 2028. His long-term goal is to reach 500 restaurants in the United States.

Nadeem Bajwa’s story, from the hardships of immigration to becoming one of the largest franchise partners in a multinational network, is a striking example of how perseverance and hard work can take someone from pizza delivery to building their own fast-food empire.