This summer, Papa Johns and Not Famous but Known® PopUp Bagels are uniting two brands with devoted followings and a shared commitment to craftsmanship for a special three-week, two-part schmear release nobody saw coming, but everyone will want to try. Beginning August 27 with an initial drop, followed by a second release on September 3, PopUp Bagels is turning Papa Johns most iconic flavor signatures, the famous pepperoncini and legendary Special Garlic Sauce, into limited-time schmears crafted for ripping, dipping, and repeating.
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Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels deliver the ultimate flavor crossover with two new schmears inspired by iconic Papa Johns flavors.
Whether you’re the person who saves the pepperoncini for the perfect last bite or treats garlic sauce like liquid gold, this collaboration was made for you.
“Few menu items inspire the kind of loyalty and love that our Special Garlic Sauce and signature pepperoncini do,” said Shivram Vaideeswaran, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Papa Johns. “For years, fans have debated the best way to eat their pepperoncini, stocked up on extra garlic sauce and turned both into cultural calling cards for our brand. PopUp Bagels shares our obsession with creating experiences people crave. It’s unexpected, a little playful and honestly incredibly delicious.”
The collaboration takes two of Papa Johns most recognizable flavor icons and reimagines them as rich, craveable schmears designed specifically for PopUp Bagels’ signature Grip, Rip and Dip® experience.
- Pepperoncini Schmear (Available Starting Aug 27): Inspired by the pepperoncini that comes complimentary with every Papa Johns pizza, this bright, tangy cream cheese delivers a craveable mix of pickle-forward zing, subtle heat and creamy richness. It’s the cult-favorite flavor fans know and love, now spreadable.
- Special Garlic Sauce Butter (Available Starting Sep 3): Inspired by Papa Johns legendary Special Garlic Sauce, this indulgent schmear captures the buttery, savory garlic flavor that has inspired countless extra sauce requests and dipping rituals. Rich, velvety and unapologetically garlicky, it’s everything fans love about the original reimagined for a warm, fresh-from-the-oven bagel.
“The best collaborations start with flavors people already know and love, then give them a reason to experience them differently,” said Adam Goldberg, Founder of PopUp Bagels. “Papa Johns pepperoncini and Signature Garlic Sauce are instantly recognizable and bringing them into the PopUp Bagels world as schmears was exactly the kind of unexpected combination we love creating. It’s where craftsmanship meets delicious chaos, taking familiar flavors, putting a fresh spin on them, and creating something that’s equal parts thoughtfully crafted and irresistibly unexpected.”
The Papa Johns x PopUp Bagels limited-time bagel schmears will be available while supplies last. For more information visit www.popupbagels.com and follow @papajohns and @popupbagels.
To celebrate the collaboration, PopUp Bagels will be “popping up” at a Papa Johns in Atlanta for one day only on September 3, bringing the partnership to life with complimentary PopUp Bagels and the limited-edition schmears. Fans can also get a first taste of exclusive Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels menu items created just for the occasion, with additional surprises in store throughout the day. First come, first served, while supplies last. Local Papa Rewards members will be notified through their Papa Johns app about the participating location and drop details.
Not a Papa Rewards member? Sign up here so you don’t miss the next drop!
ABOUT PAPA JOHNS
Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened its doors in 1984 with one goal in mind: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA.® Papa Johns believes that using high-quality ingredients leads to superior quality pizzas. Its original dough is made of only six ingredients and is fresh, never frozen. Papa Johns tops its pizzas with real cheese made from mozzarella, pizza sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes that go from vine to can in the same day and meat free of fillers. It was the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of artificial flavours and synthetic colours from its entire food menu. Papa Johns is co-headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. and Louisville, Ky. and is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company with approximately 6,000 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories. For more information about the Company or to order pizza online, visit www.papajohns.ca or download the Papa Johns mobile app for iOS or Android.
ABOUT POPUP BAGELS
At PopUp Bagels, our mission is fueled by passion and dedication: to craft unmistakably perfect bagels with no frills, using the essence of simplicity – crispy crusts, soft crumb centers, and an ideal proportion of seeds. Every bagel is a product of precision, from the high-quality ingredients in our dough to the meticulous proofing process and expert bake that achieves the perfect texture and flavor. Our commitment to quality goes beyond the bagel itself – innovating with top brands, chefs, and tastemakers to create epic schmears that elevate the cream cheese experience with bold, unexpected flavors.
What started as a local sensation, founded by Adam Goldberg in Westport, CT, has quickly grown into a celebrated name. It has earned acclaim from bagel lovers and industry experts alike and led to a nationwide expansion. No sandwiches here – we serve our bagels fresh from the oven, hot and whole, to Grip, Rip and Dip. Loyal fans enjoy our bagels right from the bag, or they can be taken home or to the park to enjoy in endless ways. Follow our story on Instagram or our website, and come try for yourself how every bagel crafted is a testament to our commitment to perfection.
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