Papa Johns and Google Cloud Reimagine the Future of Food Ordering to Better Serve Customers

Papa Johns is betting big on AI-powered convenience.

At NRF 2026 in New York, the pizza chain announced a major transformation of its digital ordering experience—aimed at delivering faster ordering, improved accuracy, and real-time personalization for its 150 million-plus customers worldwide. The update is powered by Google Cloud’s newly expanded AI solution, the Food Ordering agent, part of Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience. The key takeaway: Papa Johns is the first restaurant brand to bring these new omnichannel ordering capabilities to market—moving beyond basic chatbots and into what Google Cloud calls the era of agentic commerce, where AI doesn’t just answer questions, it actively completes tasks and improves outcomes.

From chatbot to “agentic” ordering

Food Ordering agent is designed to unify voice and text ordering across the places customers already interact with the brand—without forcing them to repeat themselves or start over when they switch channels. Instead of treating app ordering, phone ordering, kiosks, and in-car systems as separate experiences, the platform supports high-quality voice AI agents across:

• Mobile apps
• Websites
• Telephones
• Kiosks
• In-car systems

This is a notable shift from earlier AI deployments that focused heavily on drive-thru automation. Here, the goal is a single, consistent ordering experience where customers can order how they want, where they want, with less friction.

What Papa Johns is building with Google Cloud

Papa Johns says the new system is designed to make ordering “faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever before.” The company’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Kevin Vasconi, framed it as more than a product refresh.

“Papa Johns is a digitally-driven business and, as such, one of our strategic priorities is investing in our technology to deliver a more seamless experience across our assets and owned channels, better connect with our customers, and support greater efficiency across our operations by leveraging data and AI,” Vasconi said. “We’re using Google Cloud’s Food Ordering agent to reimagine what’s possible for our customers. This isn’t just an app update; it’s a fundamental shift in how our customers interact with our brand digitally, making it faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever before.”

The new capabilities focus on three areas that tend to create the most friction in food ordering: deals, complex orders, and repeat purchases.

Intelligent Deal Wizard: fewer abandoned carts, more confidence

One of the most common reasons customers abandon carts is uncertainty—Did I pick the best deal? Is there a better promo code? Papa Johns’ Intelligent Deal Wizard is positioned as a personal concierge that automatically applies the best value combinations. The benefit is twofold:

• Customers spend less time hunting for discounts
• Papa Johns reduces cart abandonment and builds loyalty through instant value

In short: the system is designed to help customers feel like they’re getting the best price without extra steps.

Advanced Voice & Group Ordering: making complex orders easier

Group orders are where ordering systems often break down: multiple people, multiple changes, special instructions, and constant edits. Papa Johns’ Advanced Voice & Group Ordering is built to capture that revenue without requiring human intervention. By handling natural language nuances and real-time modifications, the system aims to improve order accuracy even when the request is complicated—exactly the kind of scenario where mistakes can lead to refunds, remakes, and lost customers.

No-tap reordering for Papa Rewards customers

Pizza ordering is often habitual. Many customers reorder the same items, especially loyal customers. With the new experience, the agent can identify returning Papa Rewards members and proactively ask if they want to reorder their most recent purchase. That no-tap flow matters because it shortens the distance between intent and checkout—turning a routine craving into a completed order in seconds.

Why it matters: omnichannel is now the expectation

Google Cloud’s Carrie Tharp, vice president of global solutions and industries, described the shift as a move beyond the chatbot era.

“The retail industry is entering the era of agentic commerce, where AI is an engine for business value,” Tharp said. “By being the first to deploy our omnichannel Food Ordering agent, Papa Johns is moving beyond the chatbot era to create a fluid, intelligent experience that meets hungry customers wherever they are, whether they are in their car, on an app, or at a kiosk.”

That’s the core point: customers don’t think in channels. They think in outcomes.

• Ordering hands-free while driving
• Reordering in one step from the couch
• Using a kiosk quickly while picking up

If the experience is inconsistent, slow, or confusing, customers bounce. If it’s fast and accurate, they come back.

What’s next

Papa Johns will showcase the technology at the Google Cloud booth 5507 at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in NYC, offering live demos to attendees. The company expects to roll out these capabilities to customers nationwide by the end of 2026.

About Papa Johns

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened in 1984 with one goal: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA. Papa Johns says it uses high-quality ingredients, including fresh, never frozen original dough made with six ingredients, real mozzarella cheese, and vine-ripened tomato sauce. The company operates more than 6,000 restaurants across approximately 50 countries and territories.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud provides AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools, offering an integrated AI stack built on planet-scale infrastructure and custom-built chips. Organizations in more than 200 countries and territories use Google Cloud as a technology partner.

Resources

• Papa Johns (Official Site)
• Google Cloud (Official Site)

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Mix a Little Luck into Your Big Game Menu

(Family Features) Picture this: Your team is down three points, but the taste of victory is just one field goal away. Sometimes, all you need is a little luck and a whole lot of guac. After all, an estimated 250 million pounds of avocados are consumed during the Big Game each year, according to Hass Avocado Board Volume Data. That’s enough to fill 30 million football helmets with guac – but filling your belly instead is a win-win for good luck and great flavor. Dip into good fortune this football season with help from Avocado From Mexico’s Guac Guru, Rob Riggle, whose visionary Good Luck Guac recipe is ready to share just in time for the Big Game. Whether you’re in it for the football, the commercials or the snacks, this recipe can score major points with your entire crew. Crafted for fans of every team, this bold, golden twist on a favorite football snack is infused with ingredients associated with good luck – edible gold flakes and pomegranate seeds – to get you through the most nail-biting moments of the game. The star ingredient is fresh, high-quality Avocados From Mexico that offer good taste, good nutrition, and good times. Beyond delicious dips, chips and lots of fun, hosting a watch party can also be a lot of work. Make sure your hosting duties don’t create interference or put you on the sidelines with these tips: Get a jumpstart on party prep. The day before the game, tidy up your space and prepare as much of the food as you can. For dishes best served fresh – like guac – take care of the ingredient prep, like chopping veggies. Create comfortable seating and viewing areas. For a watch party, you’ll want plenty of room for guests to sit comfortably where they can see the screen and have easy access to the guac. If there’s not enough space in the living room to fit everyone, consider bringing a TV to the kitchen so people can snack and watch at the same time. Know your guests. From non-alcoholic beverage options to additional entertainment like board games and kid-friendly activities, become a next-level party host by providing a setup tailored to your guests’ needs. One thing almost everyonecan agree on: Guac made with Avocados From Mexico can be the star of nearly any party’s snacking lineup. Make it your team’s lucky day with more game day recipes at AvocadosFromMexico.com/recipe.  

Good Luck Guac

Recipe courtesy of Rob Riggle on behalf of Avocados From Mexico

• 4          Avocados From Mexico, halved, pitted and peeled
• 1          tablespoon lime juice
• 1          tablespoon onion, minced
• 3          tablespoons pomegranate seeds
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1          pinch edible gold leaf flakes

1. In large bowl, mash avocados until chunky-smooth.
2. Fold in lime juice, onion, pomegranate seeds and salt until well combined.
3. Garnish with edible gold leaf flakes.

SOURCE:

What Are Comfort Foods—and Why Do We Crave Them?

Food & Beverage | The Knowledge Comfort foods are more than just meals—they are emotional touchstones. From a bowl of chicken noodle soup to a plate of mac and cheese, comfort foods provide familiarity, warmth, and reassurance during moments of stress, illness, or nostalgia. While comfort foods vary by culture and personal experience, their purpose is universal: they make us feel grounded, safe, and connected.

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What Defines Comfort Food?

Although comfort foods differ from person to person, they often share common characteristics:

• Familiar and nostalgic – Foods tied to childhood or family traditions
• Warm and filling – Soups, casseroles, stews, and baked dishes
• Emotionally satisfying – Comforting beyond physical hunger
• Rich in carbohydrates or fats – Which can influence mood-regulating chemicals in the brain

These foods are rarely chosen for convenience alone—they’re chosen because they feel like home.

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The Science Behind Comfort Foods

There is real science behind why comfort foods make us feel better. Carbohydrate-rich foods can increase the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and promote a sense of calm. Warm foods also play a role. Studies suggest that warmth can enhance feelings of safety and emotional comfort, which may explain why soups, stews, and hot meals are commonly craved during stressful times or colder seasons. In short, comfort foods don’t just satisfy hunger—they support emotional well-being.

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Comfort Foods Are Cultural

Every culture has its own version of comfort food, shaped by tradition, availability, and shared history:

• United States: Mac and cheese, meatloaf, mashed potatoes
• Mexico: Tamales, pozole
• Italy: Pasta, lasagna
• Japan: Ramen, curry rice
• India: Dal with rice

What makes these foods comforting isn’t the recipe—it’s the memory and meaning attached to them.

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Why We Turn to Comfort Foods

People often crave comfort foods during moments of emotional or physical vulnerability, including:

• Stress or anxiety
• Illness or fatigue
• Homesickness
• Major life changes
• Celebrations and family gatherings

In uncertain moments, familiar flavors help restore a sense of normalcy and emotional balance.

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More Than a Meal

Comfort food isn’t about indulgence or nutrition alone—it’s about connection. These dishes link us to people, places, and moments that shaped us. That’s why comfort foods endure across generations, cultures, and changing trends. Comfort food doesn’t just feed the body. It feeds the moment.

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Related Reading

• Why We Crave Comfort Foods – Smithsonian Magazine
• Why Comfort Foods Comfort – Psychology Today
• Why Comfort Foods Make Us Feel Better – Harvard Health
• Comfort Food and Cultural Identity – National Geographic
• The Science Behind Comfort Foods – BBC Future

Get The Knowledge—only on STM Daily News.