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MEDIA CONTACTS
For Donatos-related media requests, please contact:

Dave Parsons
Donatos Pizza
(614) 416-7722

dparsons@donatos.com

 

 

 

Danielle Sullivan
Donatos Pizza
(614) 416-7738 
dsullivan@donatos.com 

RECENT NEWS 

October 7, 2018
Listen to Jane's appearance on the Conquering Columbus podcast.

November 28, 2016
Donatos Pizza exemplifies the meaning of their name—to give a good thing—not only through their food, but through their commitment to dignity and respect to their customers and communities, a founding family member told a group of Ohio University students recently.

November 16, 2016
As part of its ongoing efforts to highlight the unique and diverse perspectives of all business leaders, Fisher College of Business recently provided its students, alumni and friends with a number of opportunities to engage with some of the most prominent women business leaders from a variety of industries across the country.

May 13, 2016
Congratulations to the Christian Community Church North 24/7 Youth Group, Jane Grote Abell and Tanny Crane, recipients of the 2016 Amethyst Purple Heart Award, which is presented annually to individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to Amethyst and demonstrate their support of treatment and recovery in the community.

May 7, 2016
Watch as Jane Grote Abell receives her honorary degree from Capital University and gives the commencement speech for the graduating class of 2016.

Full article »

April 19, 2016
Visionary women recognized for efforts to revitalize South Side.

March 24, 2016

Ohio State University plans to offer $3.9 million in scholarships to preschool and child-care teachers who want to earn bachelor's degrees, as long as they agree to teach in Columbus.

Ohio State President Michael V. Drake and Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther made the announcement this morning at the Reeb Avenue Community Center, 280 Reeb Ave. The hope is the program will help to produce more teachers while helping the city educate young children.

Feb 1, 2016
Taking risks are critical to creating new paths in business - and in life. 
When I was younger, I used to joke that my lack of experience allowed me to be wide open to learning new things and taking risks...

Jan 8, 2016
For some four decades, Jane Grote Abell has lived and breathed the Donatos Pizza culture. Her new book, The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way, shares the history of the Columbus, Ohio–based brand, as well as anecdotes from Abell herself and other members of the pizza family.

Dec 18, 2015
When you think of a business that leads, stands proud as a member of even small communities, and one that gives back, it’s easy to think of Donatos. Donatos success is in large part because of the woman who joins us today. She’s not only a highly respected business woman from  humble beginnings, she’s not a celebrated author – Jane Grote Abell. 
Dec 11, 2015
Donatos Pizza Chairwoman Jane Grote Abell is sharing some lessons from her years with the family business. She's out with a new book, The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way, in which she shares stories from the company's brief time under the McDonald's umbrella, her experience on CBS’ Undercover Boss and more. 
Dec 10, 2015

Jane Grote Abell said she never wanted to write a book, but she did anyway.

The daughter of Donatos' founder Jim Grote, and current chairwoman of the pizza chain's board of directors, spent years compiling the stories and ideas behind "The Missing Piece," a book about the company's history, culture and values. 

Full article »
Dec 9, 2015
She grew up on the south side of Columbus in the home behind her dad’s first pizza restaurant. That Donatos didn’t have a dining room so the customers came to her house and became family.
Call it an education for hometown business woman Jane Grote Abell – one she’s sharing in a book she released Wednesday.
Dec 8, 2015
Founding family member of Donatos Pizza and Chairwoman of the Board Jane Grote Abell is releasing her first book titled "The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way.” An official release party will be held on Wednesday at Strongwater Food & Spirits in Columbus, Ohio.

"The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way" is the story of a classic American family business. It is an account of Abell's lifelong education in leadership, authenticity and running a values-based business.

Full article »
Oct 15, 2015
Nov 2, 2015
 
The Reeb Elementary School building is a sturdy rock in a crumbling neighborhood, nurturing South Side children for a century before it was closed in 2009.

But the brick and limestone building is poised for a rebirth, one that community leaders and residents hope will inject life into a gritty area that was once teeming with it and that they are calling the Southern Gateway.
Oct 15, 2015

Business First Fast 50: Donatos' leaders describe times growth almost ruined the company
Entrepreneurs dream of that first expansion from a single store, and of getting acquired by a huge corporation. For Donatos Pizzeria LLC, both achievements almost ruined the business, Chairwoman Jane Grote Abell told for the crowd at Columbus Business First's Fast 50 awards program on Thursday.

What saved it was its roots, she said: "It was not about being the biggest."


Full article »

Sep 28, 2015
Donatos Pizza Serves Up Success By The Slice
In this Salute to American Success, we’re taking a look at pizza franchise Donatos Pizza. This company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio began serving customers back in 1963, when then-19-year-old Jim Grote bought an existing pizza shop for $1,300.

Full article »

Sep 26, 2015

The new Reeb Avenue Center is being called a “hub of hope” for the surrounding neighborhood, but its reach might extend far beyond the South Side

Full article »

Aug 5, 2015

The Reeb Avenue Center will become home to 13 nonprofits offering a variety of services, attending to the needs of anyone who walks through the door. But backers hope it can become far more.
“We would love for it to become a national model,” Jane Grote Abell, owner of Donatos, said Wednesday at a Columbus Metropolitan Club luncheon.
June 12, 2015

This Brand Is Bigger Than The Product Any Way You Slice It
I am unabashedly a fan of pizza. Being born and raised (and still residing) in Philly I of course have my local favorites. However, I am also a fan of some chains as well, one of them being Donatos.

Ah who are we kidding. At 6 foot, 3 inches tall and weighing in at 250 pounds there ain’t a whole helluva lot of foods I don’t like. But be that as it may, I do in fact like Donatos and after speaking with Jane Abell, the CEO of Donatos I like them even more – and it has nothing to do with the food.


Full article »

Dec 1, 2014

CEO OF THE YEAR: DONATOS’ JANE GROTE ABELL
Jane Grote Abell wants employees to feel comfortable bringing their principles to work. And the board chairwoman for Donatos leads by example.

Full article »

March 1, 2014

The 2014 Women of Achievement
Each year, the YWCA recognizes women who make a difference in the community. Meet the 2014 honorees, who will be celebrated at an April 2 luncheon.

Full article »

Nov 21, 2013

Women of Achievement: Diversity of honorees praised
The 29th YWCA Women of Achievement class, announced yesterday, offers “a diverse group of remarkable women,” said Elfi Di Bella, president and CEO of YWCA Columbus. And the emphasis might well be on diverse.

Full article »

Oct 11, 2013

Donatos CEO Goes Undercover In CBS Show
For 50 years, Donatos has been making pizza.

CEO Jane Grote Abell runs the company now, but when she was a child, her father started the small shop in front of their home.

Full article »

Oct 11, 2013

Tonight’s ‘Undercover Boss’ is Donatos executive
It's hard to imagine that Jane Grote Abell, chairwoman of Donatos Pizza who appears frequently in the chain's commercials, could be disguised well enough to be an "Undercover Boss."

Full article »