Papa John's Pizza, Chicago

Papa John's may be a nationally recognized name in the pizza-making world, but at these Chicago-area franchises, local is the name of the game. Owned and operated by Chicago residents since 2010, these seven shops share more than just a city. At each location, cooks cover the signature hand-tossed crusts, made with high-protein flour and clear, filtered water, with tomato sauce from vine-ripened California tomatoes, then pile on locally sourced ingredients such as green peppers and onions. The emphasis on fresh ingredients extends to the 100% mozzarella cheese, beef, and pork, which are never artificially inflated with fillers or undeserved compliments.

In addition to delivering pizzas, Papa John’s reaches out to the community with charity involvement, including working with Chicago-area chapters of the Salvation Army and partnering with the Boy Scouts of America and Junior Achievement to teach US students about entrepreneurship and the best method of capturing a wild roma tomato.