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Nadeem Bajwa, 58, is the co -founder and CEO of Bajco Group.
Kindly nadeem bajwa
In 1991, Nadem Bayva immigrated to the US from Pakistan. While he studied at college in Indiana, he worked on several works, including pizza delivery for restaurants Daddy JohnWhere he earned $ 4.25 per hour.
Today, at the age of 58, there is an empire of fast food. Currently, Bajwa is the main franchise of Pope Jones in North America, with more than 270 places across the country.
He is also the CEO Bajco Group, Which he co -established with his two brothers, and has a diverse portfolio of companies that cover construction, technology, accounting, his portfolio of Papa Johns and more.
The success of immigrants
Bajv’s way to success was not easy. In his twenties, he was the first in his family to move to the United States, where he faced many problems upon his arrival.
“When I came to the US, it was actually my first flight (if -something.) I had never flipped before,” Bayva said. “Just hitting the plane, it was a full flight that came here (it was) a lot of anxiety … But I was determined to do it.”
He said he felt some cultural shock and fought with communication because he did not speak English at the time. “Sometimes, when you are away from the family and you are alone … It was very, very difficult,” Bayva said.
To help finance their university expenses, Bayva took several side concerts.
“My first summer I did three work … washing the dishes (during) breakfast time, and then taking pizza in the afternoon and late at night, working at Taco Bell,” said Bayva CNBC do this.
“I lived in Fort -oin, Indiana, and … I just started delivering John’s dad when they came to the city and from there just started to love him, and the advice was good, so it helped,” he said.
Nadya Bayva with his brothers and co -founders of Bajco Group, Bajva Faisal and Abdul Malik Bajva.
Using Bajco Group.
Bajwa quickly moved the ranks on Dad John. As long as he graduated from the university in 1996, he had already moved to become the driver of the district manager. After graduation, Baiwa turned to several corporate roles because he always hoped to do after his studies.
“I applied for some work and at the back of the mind I hoped I wouldn’t get a corporate job but wanted to try it because it was one of the … tested characters I had to check,” he said. “I just didn’t want to regret that I never applied because my whole life I thought I would go to the corporate sector.”
“But when I went to find (corporate) job, I couldn’t get a job that would pay me … more than what I already did (at Papa John’s),” Bajva said. For this reason, he decided to stay in the pizza, and as a result, he was engaged in several pizza stores before he became Franchise himself.
In July 2002, with the help of family support and bank loans, Bajwa opened his first John’s Dad Store to East Liverpool, Ohio.
“I bought used equipment at a very low price, and at the time I created a shop for half (with) what I would (paid) because I am a lot (work) myself,” he added. “My whole idea was to open as little money as possible and spending money on marketing.”
He said the cost for the construction of his first store was about $ 150,000.
Lessons of solid illnesses
Bajva learned several lessons at an early stage, thanks to some key mistakes.
Before opening his first place in the restaurant, Baiwa focused heavily on getting the word about the solemn opening of the store.
“I was doing too much marketing, and on the first day (which the store opened), half the crew came out because it was chaos,” Bayva said. “Too many people appeared because I advertised too much and I focused on advertising than teaching people to make pizza … Then I learned how important it is to be ready before (opening).”
Then, six months after the first opening, Bajva saw that the store’s profit was ahead of the forecasts, so it quickly continued to open a few more places.
“After two stores, I thought without problems. We opened three more after that, and guess I didn’t have (the best people) around me and (then we) started fighting,” he said. So he and his team had to take a step back and give it some time before trying to expand again.
“There was a time when we grew up too fast and got into the pump. (In) 2008 (during) the economic crisis … These were difficult times,” he added. Ultimately, Bajv said, he is grateful for these early failures, because they taught him to all he knows today.
I never dreamed of this height … So, it all started with a pizza delivery. Can you believe this?
Nakem
Co -founder and CEO Bajco Group
Throughout his journey, Bajv said, he learned the importance of self -refinement. “You have to be modest, because on the day when you start thinking that everything turned out, I believe your fall will start.”
In 2024, Bajco Group signed an agreement with Papa Johns International Develop 50 new restaurants by 2028. Bajva said his goal was to get up to 500 restaurant places. With the growth of his Papa Johns portfolio for many years, Bajwa has also created a neighboring business.
“We have developed a count -center, construction hand, offshore accounting and technological hand to bring (efficiency) to our Papa Johns portfolio, which have now become a separate enterprise and serve several customers within the Papa Johns brand,” he said.
“I never dreamed of this height. (I just focused on doing my best … and studying on my mistakes … And the rest had just come,” Bayva said. “So, it all started with a pizza. Can you believe it?”
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