Technology

Hungry Howie’s partners with DoorDash for massive digital overhaul

Hungry Howie’s has partnered with the DoorDash Commerce Platform to completely overhaul its digital ecosystem — including a rebuilt app, unified customer feedback system and a new flexible loyalty program launching in 2027 — to modernize the ordering experience and drive long-term franchise growth.

Photo: Hungry Howie's

July 23, 2026 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

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As consumer demand for seamless digital convenience continues to accelerate, the originator of the Flavored Crust pizza is undergoing a massive technological transformation. Hungry Howie's recently announced a sweeping strategic partnership with DoorDash that extends far beyond a traditional marketplace delivery listing.

By leveraging the DoorDash Commerce Platform, the 50-year-old franchise is entirely rebuilding its native app and website, consolidating its feedback channels into a unified Guest Experience Management (GEM) system, and preparing to launch a reimagined, highly flexible loyalty program in 2027.

Moe Shrikian, EVP and general counsel for Hungry Howie's. Photo: Hungry Howie's

"We're strategically partnering with DoorDash because they offer more than just delivery. They give us an enterprise grade platform to modernize our ordering experience, drive digital sales growth, strengthen our connection with customers, and support our franchisees with one unified system," said Steve Jackson, CEO of Hungry Howie's in a press release. "It's a meaningful step in how we show up for our guests, both online and at the door."

"Customers expect ordering to be simple, convenient, and consistent wherever they engage with a brand," added KC Fox, general manager, commerce platform at DoorDash, in the press release. "We're proud to work with Hungry Howie's to help power their digital ordering experience and support their efforts to connect with customers through their own channels while helping franchisees serve their communities."

To unpack the strategy behind this enterprise-wide digital overhaul and what it means for the brand's nearly 500 locations, we spoke with Moe Shrikian, EVP and general counsel for Hungry Howie's, in an email Q&A, about empowering franchisees, eliminating customer friction and laying a scalable foundation for long-term growth.

Q: Beyond just using DoorDash for delivery, what makes this a true strategic partnership for Hungry Howie's?

Shrikian:This goes well beyond a standard marketplace listing. DoorDash is providing an enterprise commerce platform that supports Hungry Howie's across web, app, loyalty and delivery fulfillment, not just order delivery. Instead of stitching together separate vendors for each piece, this partnership lets Hungry Howie's build a single, connected digital ecosystem that covers branded direct ordering, loyalty integration, and website and app infrastructure alongside marketplace delivery. It's system-wide technology planning built for a large multi-location franchise system, not a simple add-on.

Q: How will this partnership help your individual franchisees run their businesses more smoothly?

Shrikian: The new technology platform will provide franchise owners with a more modern, streamlined way to operate their businesses. By creating a unified system across ordering, customer engagement, and internal operations, Hungry Howie's is making it easier to deliver a faster, more consistent customer experience, while simplifying order management for franchise owners and their teams. The enhanced platform will also help franchisees connect with guests in more meaningful ways while maintaining the high-quality flavored-crust pizzas that have defined the brand for decades.

Q: For a loyal customer ordering on the new website or app, what will be the most noticeable improvements in the ordering process?

Shrikian: Customers will see a more modern, streamlined ordering experience with easier navigation and checkout. The rebuild also brings stronger loyalty integration directly into the ordering flow, improved mobile usability, and better promotions and merchandising. The goal is a more consistent Hungry Howie's brand experience no matter which channel a customer orders through, with continued testing and optimization over time to keep improving ease of use.

Q: How will Hungry Howie's Guest Experience Management platform respond to customer feedback faster than before?

Shrikian: Hungry Howie's new Guest Experience Management (GEM) platform will significantly improve the brand's ability to monitor and respond to customer feedback in real time. Previously, online reviews, customer surveys, and app feedback were managed through separate systems, making it more difficult to get a complete picture of customer sentiment and identify issues quickly. With GEM, all customer feedback is consolidated into a single, integrated platform, giving the brand and its franchisees one centralized view of guest experiences. This increased visibility allows teams to identify trends, address concerns faster, and respond more proactively to customer needs. By eliminating the need to monitor multiple systems, Hungry Howie's can shorten response times, resolve issues more efficiently and ultimately improve guest satisfaction and online ratings.

Q: You're launching a new loyalty program in 2027. What are "bankable points," and how do they give customers more flexibility?

Shrikian: The new loyalty program is being designed to give customers greater flexibility in how and when they use their rewards. Unlike traditional programs that may require customers to redeem rewards immediately upon reaching a specific threshold, bankable points are intended to allow customers to accumulate points over time and choose when to redeem them for rewards that best fit their preferences. The goal is to create a more customer-centric loyalty experience that reflects how guests order today, while making it easier to earn and redeem rewards across relevant ordering channels. Additional details regarding how points are earned, stored, redeemed, and any applicable expiration policies will be shared closer to the program's launch in 2027.

Q: Will customers still be able to earn and redeem these loyalty points if they order directly through the DoorDash marketplace app, or just through Hungry Howie's owned channels?

Shrikian:The loyalty program is being designed primarily around Hungry Howie's owned digital channels, including our new website and mobile app. Those channels will give customers the most direct way to earn, track and redeem bankable points. DoorDash marketplace ordering will remain an important convenience channel for customers, but the specific rules for earning and redeeming loyalty points by channel will be finalized and communicated closer to the program's 2027 launch.

Q: You're taking a phased approach to rolling this out across the country. Why is a gradual rollout important for a transition of this size?

Shrikian: A phased rollout lets Hungry Howie's apply what it learns from the initial pilot before expanding further, gives franchisees time to prepare and implement the new systems properly, and helps ensure customers get a consistent experience system-wide rather than a rushed, uneven transition. It also reflects DoorDash's approach of continuous testing and improvement throughout the rollout rather than a single, one-time switch.

Q: Hungry Howie's expects to be fully transitioned by Q2 2027. What are the major milestones or phases customers should look out for between now and then?

Shrikian: Between the pilot and the full nationwide rollout, the focus is on optimization based on early results, franchisee readiness and training, and a phased, market-by-market deployment designed to keep the customer and operator experience smooth as it scales.

Q: Why was now the right time for Hungry Howie's to undertake such a significant technology overhaul?

Shrikian: Consumer expectations have evolved dramatically in recent years, particularly around digital ordering, loyalty programs, and convenience. Today's guests expect fast, intuitive, and consistent experiences whether they're ordering through a website, mobile app or delivery platform. Hungry Howie's recognized the opportunity to invest in technology that not only meets those expectations today but also positions the brand for long-term growth. By modernizing its digital ecosystem now, the company can better support franchisees, strengthen customer relationships, improve operational efficiency and create a scalable foundation that will support the brand well into the future. This investment is about ensuring Hungry Howie's remains competitive, relevant, and responsive to the way customers choose to engage with restaurant brands today.

About Mandy Wolf Detwiler

Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the Pizzamarketplace.com and QSRweb.com editor for Connect Media. An award-winning journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and, yes, she can tell you where to find the best pizza slices in the country.

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