Since 1987, Perky’s Pizza has built its business around a simple concept: serving great pizza from compact, efficient spaces without compromising on quality. Their tagline, “It’s the Taste,” reflects that commitment to delivering great pizza in every location. Today, the company operates in 171 locations, each situated inside another business. Rather than following a traditional standalone restaurant model, the team specializes in bringing pizza programs into existing spaces, working closely with operators on kitchen buildouts, retrofits, and layouts that maximize efficiency.
For President Jim Howell, who has been with the company for 26 years, success starts with one thing: great pizza.
Perky’s pioneered a compact pizza concept centered on quality ingredients, great taste, and a straightforward menu featuring favorites like pepperoni and sausage. While the menu may be simple, consistency is essential, especially in the family entertainment centers where many locations operate.
Howell describes pizza as the “heartbeat of the company.” As the number one seller, it plays an important role in the guest experience, providing families with fresh, hot food to enjoy during their visit.
“You can’t get pizza wrong,” Howell emphasized.
For more than 15 years, the company has partnered with TurboChef to support its commitment to quality, consistency, and operational efficiency. Today, its kitchens use HhC 1618 conveyor ovens, frequently double stacked and occasionally triple stacked, along with the Double Batch.
The team initially selected TurboChef for its ventless capabilities and innovative approach to cooking technology. After transitioning from another oven brand, they found that the equipment offered additional features, faster cook times, and improved cooking results.
Today, a large pizza can cook in approximately 2 minutes and 45 seconds using the HhC 1618. That speed is particularly valuable in busy entertainment environments, where guests expect fresh, high-quality food without long wait times. For Howell, serving pizza made fresh on-site is an important part of creating a positive guest experience from beginning to end.
Maintaining a compact footprint is equally important to the business model. Stackable conveyor ovens help maximize production capacity without occupying additional floor space, while reversible conveyor belts provide flexibility in tight layouts. For a company frequently retrofitting kitchens into existing facilities, these features are especially valuable.
Ease of operation also plays a role in maintaining consistency across all locations. Howell describes the ovens as straightforward to use, with preprogrammed settings providing a nearly “plug-and-play” experience that simplifies training and day-to-day execution.
Of all the features Howell values, however, ventless operation stands out as the most significant.
He describes ventless cooking as the “single most important leap in technology that TurboChef has ever made,” particularly because of the substantial costs associated with traditional ventilation systems. According to Howell, installing a hood can account for as much as 50 percent of a project’s budget.
For a business built around fitting pizza programs into existing spaces, avoiding the need for a traditional ventilation hood makes a tremendous difference. With fewer infrastructure requirements, the team has greater flexibility when planning kitchen layouts, managing buildout costs, and identifying new opportunities.
Long-term equipment maintenance is another important consideration. Howell appreciates the ease of cleaning the conveyor ovens, along with resources such as cleaning videos, maintenance schedules, and manuals that help operators properly care for their equipment across locations.
Looking ahead, the team continues exploring opportunities to evolve its menu, including testing Detroit-style pizza. While new offerings may be on the horizon, the focus remains the same: delivering great pizza consistently, efficiently, and within the compact spaces that define the concept.
With Perky’s commitment to “It’s the Taste” and TurboChef’s purpose of “Simplifying Life Through Innovation,” the two companies are a natural fit. TurboChef’s ovens support Perky’s focus on delivering great pizza consistently while keeping operations simple and efficient.
After more than 15 years of experience with TurboChef ovens, Howell has straightforward advice for operators considering the equipment:
“Buy TurboChef. Do it!”
While controlling costs is always important, Howell believes the quality of the pizza and the equipment behind it are not areas where operators should compromise.
“You have to get it right,” he said. “The right decision is TurboChef.”
He also encourages operators to take advantage of the knowledge and experience already available to them. Rather than starting from scratch, they can lean on established cooking technology, proven applications, and industry expertise when developing their own foodservice programs.
Nearly four decades after opening, Perky’s Pizza continues to demonstrate that great pizza doesn’t require a traditional restaurant or a large kitchen. With quality ingredients, a commitment to consistency, and reliable cooking equipment that delivers day after day, the company remains focused on what matters most: getting the pizza right, every time.
