Papa Johns and PopUp Bagels Unite to Launch Garlic Sauce & Pepperoncini Schmears
Craving new flavors? The Papa Johns PopUp Bagels collaboration transforms signature garlic sauce and pepperoncini into spreads.
Two food brands are coming together for a collaboration nobody saw coming. Only time will tell if this functions as a good idea. Papa Johns and Not Famous but Known® PopUp Bagels are teaming up for a limited-time, three-week, two-part schmear release that reimagines pizza’s most legendary sides into fresh bagel dips. Beginning August 27, PopUp Bagels will begin rolling out limited-edition spreads crafted explicitly for their signature Grip, Rip and Dip experience, drawing direct inspiration from Papa Johns’ iconic pepperoncini and legendary Special Garlic Sauce.
Papa Johns PopUp Bagels: The Two-Part Schmear Drop Schedule
The collaboration introduces two distinct flavor profiles dropped over a two-week period:
- Pepperoncini Schmear (Available Starting August 27): Modeled after the signature pepperoncini pepper included in every Papa Johns pizza box, this bright cream cheese blend offers a pickle-forward zing paired with light heat and a rich, creamy finish.
- Special Garlic Sauce Butter (Available Starting September 3): Taking inspiration from the buttery, savory garlic dipping sauce that garners endless extra-sauce orders, this rich schmear brings the iconic velvety garlic flavor straight to a warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven bagel.
Papa Johns PopUp Bagels Words From the Companies
“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. “For years, fans have debated the best way to eat their pepperoncini, stocked up on extra garlic sauce and turned both into cultural calling cards for our brand. PopUp Bagels shares our obsession with creating experiences people crave. It’s unexpected, a little playful and honestly incredibly delicious.”
“The best collaborations start with flavors people already know and love, then give them a reason to experience them differently,” said Adam Goldberg, Founder of PopUp Bagels. “Papa Johns pepperoncini and Signature Garlic Sauce are instantly recognizable and bringing them into the PopUp Bagels world as schmears was exactly the kind of unexpected combination we love creating. It’s where craftsmanship meets delicious chaos, taking familiar flavors, putting a fresh spin on them, and creating something that’s equal parts thoughtfully crafted and irresistibly unexpected.”
One-Day Exclusive Atlanta Pop-Up Event
To celebrate the launch, PopUp Bagels will host a one-day-only takeover at a Papa Johns location in Atlanta on September 3. Attendees can receive complimentary PopUp Bagels paired with the limited-edition schmears alongside exclusive, event-only menu mashups created specifically for the drop. The event operates on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Local Papa Rewards members will receive location details and timing alerts directly through the Papa Johns app. For more information on availability, visit PopUp Bagels or follow along via @papajohns and @popupbagels.
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