Aaron Bonner's journey to franchising with the take-and-bake pizza brand is rooted in his deep desire to give back — a theme that has been central to his entire life.
Growing up in Denver,Aaron Bonner's early exposure toPapa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza — everyone’s favorite take 'n' bake pizza franchise with over 1,135 locations around the globe — came as a welcome relief during challenging times.
“In the Midwest, Papa Murphy’s is very well known,” said Bonner. “Sometimes we’d have big storms, and it always seemed like we’d order Papa Murphy’s afterward. That was my initial exposure — it was a brand that was always there for my family in tough situations.”
Bonner’s career path took a significant turn when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a rescue swimmer and later becoming an officer and navigator. Upon retiring in 2021 after more than 20 years in the military, Bonner's connection to Papa Murphy's was rekindled when he introduced his wife to the brand during a trip to Florida. This experience sparked the idea of bringing Papa Murphy's to their local area in Bluffton, South Carolina, where his wife works as an active duty doctor at the Parris Island Marine Corps military base. They recognized the potential to offer fresh, affordable meals to public institutions, including schools and nursing homes.
“To have a product that I can help bring into underprivileged schools for a penny on the dollar is really one of the highlights of why we are doing this,” said Bonner. “I didn’t want to just retire — I wanted to show my kids financial wealth, charity and stability, things they don’t teach you in schools. I am doing everything I can to give back.”
Looking to the future, Bonner and his wife aim to expand their franchise presence as they move around with her assignments. They plan to open additional locations and focus on community outreach to build brand recognition. Bonner’s daughter, who aspires to entrepreneurship, is expected to play a significant role in the family business, continuing the legacy of service and community involvement.
1851 Franchise spoke with Bonner to learn more about his background, his franchising journey with Papa Murphy’s and his plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Aaron Bonner:I’m from Denver, and in the Midwest, Papa Murphy’s is very well known. Growing up, it was always available to me. That was my initial exposure. Sometimes we’d have big storms, and it always seemed like we’d order Papa Murphy’s afterward. It was always there for us in tough situations. Fast forward a little, I enlisted in the military as a U.S. Navy rescue swimmer. I did that for a decade, jumping out of helicopters to save people. My goal has always been to give back, especially to underprivileged kids. I do a lot of public speaking. There are some barriers for young, underprivileged minority kids in the military, but I am a success story. I went from enlisted to officer after 10 years. After flight school, I was a navigator for 12 years. During that time, I saw those underprivileged kids and wanted to do even more. How else can I show them that there is opportunity out there?
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Bonner:Papa Murphy's was at the top of my list, but it wasn’t my number one choice initially. I have a vested interest in starting a dispensary. I’m in Denver and have lost some people to cancer right before medicinal marijuana was made legal. But I’m here in South Carolina, which doesn’t have medicinal marijuana. That’s how Papa Murphy’s moved up to the number one spot for me.
1851:What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Bonner:I retired in 2021. That’s when Papa Murphy's came to me. My wife tried it when we were in Florida, and it was a hit. We immediately started talking about how we could bring this to our area. It’s a fresh product that can be brought to public institutions as well. We also want to offer EBT. To have this product that I can put into underprivileged schools for a penny on the dollar is really one of the highlights of why we are doing this. I didn’t want to just retire; I wanted to show my kids financial wealth and stability, things they don’t teach you in schools. I am doing everything I can to give back.
1851:What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Bonner:My wife is an active duty doctor at Parris Island Marine Corps. We expect to expand while we are here for the next three years with another location. Everywhere we go, we plan to expand with the brand. There will always be demand in these communities — nursing homes, schools, etc. They always need a healthy meal. We bring something completely awesome to the table.
My daughter will be a senior next year at the local high school, and her aspirations are in entrepreneurship. She’s hot on my coattails, and I fully expect she will come home and really be running circles around me.
Whether I go to local nursing homes, college campuses or elementary schools, I am putting my face out there to get brand recognition. We are making this new migration to the East Coast. The community already knows me because of my public speaking. I am already involved, but this takes it a step further. A lot of the community doesn’t know the pizza isn’t cooked — they think they are coming in for lunch. We need to get out there and educate the community.
1851:What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?
Bonner:I have five kids, ranging from 24 years old to one year old. They all come with different lessons, whether it's learning about nutrition, financials, community involvement, etc. They are being seen as a helping hand in the community as we give back.
I was just a kid when I went into the military, and it has been a big part of my life. That's a major reason why I speak in front of people. I am a “vet-repreneur” — that is what I preach. There are just certain things that veterans understand and go through, which can bring a whole new customer base to you. That community means so much to my wife and me. We are not only veteran-owned but also veteran-operated.
1851:What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?
Bonner:Fear is okay. I’ve been through the worst. I’ve never been a businessman, but I’ve never been afraid of change. When you start a brand new career, you’ll feel like a fish out of water, but that's okay. Just breathe. If you gain knowledge and don’t do anything with it, it's pointless. Do not hesitate; take that step forward and embrace the fear. This is a leap of faith and a big investment, but get your ducks in a row. You are going to be afraid, and that's normal.
For more information on franchising with Papa Murphy’s, visit:https://www.papamurphys.com/.
About Papa Murphy’s
Papa Murphy's International LLC ("Papa Murphy's") is a franchisor and operator of the largest Take 'n' Bake pizza brand in the United States, with over 1,135 franchised and corporate-owned locations across the U.S—plus locations in Canada and the UAE.It’s no surprise that their story is a little unconventional. After all, Papa Murphy’s brought an entirely new approach to the pizza industry. But their unique idea is a simple one: enrich life and community through craveable food. They focus on using quality ingredients, prepared fresh daily, to offer guests everyday meals to take ‘n’ bake at home with ease. In addition to take ‘n’ bake pizzas, Papa Murphy's offers a selection of salads, sides, desserts, and kid’s options. Learn more and order online atpapamurphys.com.
