Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels Team Up for Two New Flavor-Packed Schmears
This summer, Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels are bringing together two brands known for passionate fans, bold flavors and a strong focus on craftsmanship. The unexpected collaboration will transform two of Papa Johns’ most recognizable flavor signatures—the brand’s famous pepperoncini and beloved Special Garlic Sauce—into limited-time schmears designed to give bagel lovers an entirely new way to experience familiar favorites.
The three-week collaboration will roll out in two stages. The first release arrives August 27, introducing the Pepperoncini Schmear, while the second drop follows September 3 with the Special Garlic Sauce Butter. Both creations will be available for a limited time and while supplies last.
The partnership combines the distinctive world of Papa Johns with PopUp Bagels’ signature approach to fresh bagels and flavorful spreads. For fans who have developed rituals around saving their pepperoncini for the final bite of a pizza or requesting extra garlic sauce for dipping, the collaboration offers an opportunity to enjoy those familiar flavors in a completely different format.
“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. He noted that customers have spent years debating the best way to enjoy the pepperoncini, ordering extra garlic sauce and turning both items into recognizable parts of the Papa Johns experience.
According to Vaideeswaran, PopUp Bagels was a natural partner because both brands share a passion for creating food experiences that generate excitement and encourage customers to come back for more. The resulting collaboration combines familiar flavors with an unexpected presentation, creating what the brand describes as a playful and craveable experience.
Two Papa Johns-Inspired Schmears
The collaboration centers on two limited-edition creations, each inspired by a different Papa Johns favorite.
Pepperoncini Schmear
Launching August 27, the Pepperoncini Schmear takes inspiration from the pepperoncini traditionally served with Papa Johns pizzas. The flavor is reimagined as a creamy spread that combines tanginess, pickle-like brightness, subtle heat and rich creaminess.
The result is designed to capture the distinctive flavor profile that has made Papa Johns’ pepperoncini a recognizable part of the pizza experience while giving it a new application. Instead of being enjoyed alongside a pizza, the pepperoncini flavor becomes a spread made for PopUp Bagels’ signature bagel experience.
The schmear is aimed at fans who appreciate the sharp, tangy character of pepperoncini and want to experience the flavor in a more versatile format. Its combination of acidity, mild spice and creamy texture is intended to pair naturally with a warm, freshly prepared bagel.
Special Garlic Sauce Butter
The second release arrives September 3 and draws inspiration from Papa Johns’ famous Special Garlic Sauce. The Special Garlic Sauce Butter is designed to translate the sauce’s rich, buttery and savory garlic profile into a schmear specifically created for bagels.
Rich and velvety with an unmistakable garlic-forward taste, the spread takes the flavors that have inspired countless requests for extra sauce and turns them into a new breakfast and snack experience.
The combination is particularly suited to PopUp Bagels’ warm, fresh bagels, giving customers a new way to enjoy the familiar garlic flavor beyond its traditional role as a pizza dipping sauce.
A Collaboration Built Around Familiar Flavors
Adam Goldberg, Founder of PopUp Bagels, said the collaboration reflects the idea that successful food partnerships can take flavors consumers already recognize and give them an unexpected new purpose.
“The best collaborations start with flavors people already know and love, then give them a reason to experience them differently,” Goldberg said.
He explained that Papa Johns’ pepperoncini and Special Garlic Sauce were immediately recognizable choices for the partnership. Bringing those flavors into the PopUp Bagels format allowed both companies to combine their respective identities while creating something new.
The collaboration also reflects a broader trend in the food industry in which established brands are finding new ways to reinterpret signature products. Rather than simply placing two brands together in a traditional co-branded product, Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels are taking recognizable flavors and adapting them to a different food occasion.
That approach gives fans a chance to interact with familiar products in a new way while preserving the flavor characteristics that made them popular in the first place.
Atlanta Pop-Up Event
To celebrate the partnership, PopUp Bagels will host a special one-day pop-up at a Papa Johns location in Atlanta on September 3.
During the event, fans will have the opportunity to receive complimentary PopUp Bagels alongside the limited-edition schmears. The celebration will also feature exclusive Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels menu items developed specifically for the occasion.
Additional surprises are planned throughout the day, adding an experiential element to the collaboration. The event will operate on a first-come, first-served basis and will continue only while supplies last.
Local Papa Rewards members will receive information through the Papa Johns app about the participating Atlanta location and details surrounding the pop-up.
The Atlanta event gives fans an opportunity to experience the collaboration as more than a limited-time menu launch. It brings the two brands together in a physical setting and allows customers to sample the products while discovering additional menu creations developed for the partnership.
Limited-Time Release Creates a New Food Experience
The Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels collaboration is scheduled as a two-part release, with the Pepperoncini Schmear arriving first on August 27 and the Special Garlic Sauce Butter following on September 3. Both products are available for a limited time and while supplies last.
For Papa Johns fans, the partnership provides a fresh interpretation of two signature flavors that have become closely associated with the brand. For PopUp Bagels customers, it introduces unexpected savory options that expand the possibilities for how a bagel can be enjoyed.
The collaboration also taps into the enthusiasm surrounding limited-edition food launches. By splitting the release into two dates, the brands are giving consumers multiple opportunities to discover the partnership and encouraging fans to return for the second flavor.
From pepperoncini-inspired tanginess to rich garlic butter flavor, the two schmears bring distinctly different Papa Johns characteristics into the world of PopUp Bagels. Together, they offer a playful combination of pizza-inspired flavor and fresh bagel craftsmanship.
Fans can learn more about the collaboration through PopUp Bagels’ official website and follow Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels on social media for additional announcements, event details and updates about the limited-time offerings.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
