Papa Johns targets 12 to 15 projects a year in Spain

Papa Johns aims to undertake between 12 and 15 new projects a year in Spain, combining company-owned and franchised restaurants. According to information published by L’Express Franchise on 23 September 2026, the brand is in advanced talks over potential openings in Galicia, Catalonia, Extremadura, Andalusia and Navarre. This is an expansion target for the coming years, not a confirmed opening schedule.

Two routes to growth

Papa Johns’ plan is based on a mixed model: new outlets managed directly by the company alongside franchised restaurants. This distinction matters to prospective franchisees, as the forecast of 12 to 15 projects a year covers both routes, rather than referring exclusively to franchise opportunities.

In the published report, Iván Martín explains that the company is seeking sustainable growth and estimates that it can undertake this number of projects each year. The range therefore reflects the pace the brand considers manageable for its development in Spain.

The information provided does not specify how many projects would be company-owned restaurants and how many would be franchises. Nor does it give an annual breakdown by region. The figure should therefore be read as a broad indication of the expansion strategy, rather than a confirmed offering of new franchised outlets.

Five regions in focus

Galicia, Catalonia, Extremadura, Andalusia and Navarre are the autonomous communities — Spain’s regional administrative divisions — named by the brand when describing its advanced talks over new openings. These locations give the plan a geographical focus, but do not yet identify the towns, cities or premises that might host the restaurants.

The status of these talks also calls for a distinction between negotiations and delivery. Advanced discussions do not mean that every deal has been finalised or that opening dates have been set. The published report does not identify addresses, franchise partners or specific timescales for each region.

For those tracking brands’ geographical expansion, the announcement indicates where Papa Johns is currently focusing its efforts. It does not, however, allow readers to compare each region’s share of the programme or establish which will see an opening first. Those details will be needed to assess the local significance of each project.

A Spanish presence dating back to 2016

Papa Johns entered Spain in May 2016, opening its first restaurant on Calle Serrano in Madrid. According to the same report, it has continued to expand its presence in the country since then.

The new target comes ten years after that market entry. Continued expansion is the central message of the announcement: the company intends to keep growing over the coming years through a combination of company-owned and franchised outlets.

However, the source material does not include the current number of restaurants in Spain. Without that figure, it is not possible to calculate the percentage growth implied by the announced range or compare the planned pace with the network’s current size. The figures available are the annual project target and the five regions where advanced talks are taking place.

What prospective franchisees should check

For an interested entrepreneur, the news signals active expansion, but it does not replace the information needed to assess joining the brand. Before linking a specific location to this plan, it is worth confirming whether the project is intended to be company-owned or franchised, and what stage it has reached.

Prospective franchisees will also need to request the relevant financial and operational terms: the published information does not detail the initial investment, premises requirements or contractual terms. None of these can be inferred from the opening target.

Practical takeaway: anyone considering a Papa Johns franchise should check directly with the brand whether their preferred territory is available and what terms apply to the project. The national forecast provides a guide to expansion; an investment decision requires outlet-specific information.