Tom Sacco, CEO, president and chief “happiness” officer at Completely happy Joe’s Pizza says the model is a “enterprise enterprise” however states the “calling is a lot extra” for the communities they serve. (Fox Information Digital / Olivia Palombo)
For greater than 50 years, Completely happy Joe’s Pizza has been serving up extra than simply their famed pizza and ice cream, it’s discovered one thing extra necessary: a “protected haven” for youngsters and households, in response to the corporate’s Chief “Happiness” Officer, Tom Sacco.
The model, which is headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, started in 1972 and was based by Joe Whitty. A “baker by commerce,” he ended up working for Shakey’s Pizza.
“From what I perceive, he went to Shakey’s and mentioned, ‘Hey, I’ve acquired a possibility with my background, I feel I can actually enhance our pizza dough,’” Tom Sacco, present Completely happy Joe’s Pizza Chief Government Officer, President and Chief “Happiness” Officer, recalled.
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“They mentioned, ‘Effectively, should you don’t suppose our pizza dough is so good, why don’t you simply depart and do your individual pizza restaurant,’” Sacco continued.
To today, the model continues to make use of that very same dough recipe, in response to Sacco.
“I attempt to be as true, not realizing him, however understanding a few of his traits and attributes,” Sacco informed FOX Enterprise.
Sacco has spent his total profession within the restaurant enterprise and grew up working in his grandfather’s kitchen at eight years outdated. After getting a bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma and finishing legislation faculty, he nonetheless selected to pursue a profession within the trade.
Completely happy Joe’s Pizza was the primary restaurant firm on the earth to create a Taco Pizza, in response to their web site. (Completely happy Joe’s Pizza / Unknown)
After a profession working with different eating places, he joined Completely happy Joe’s Pizza in 2020.
“I’m very snug within the trade, however what actually excited me was within the DNA of Completely happy Joe’s. It’s at all times about household and it revolves round kids,” Sacco mentioned.
Sacco mentioned throughout a go to to Iowa earlier than he was set to move up the corporate, he walked round shops asking individuals in the event that they have been accustomed to the model. He defined that those that he spoke with “would go on and inform [him] all these magical recollections that they’d.”
“I mentioned to myself, ‘You recognize what? I’m gonna assist them as a result of it’s an excellent model, however I’m additionally gonna be egocentric,” Sacco shared. “I’m going to assist them as a result of I would like my household, my grandchildren, to develop up with the identical recollections that I used to be informed by all these individuals.”
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In 2025, the corporate reported a “milestone 12 months” of progress and influence in the neighborhood, in response to a launch shared with Fox Enterprise.
The model re-opened a franchise in New Ulm, Minn., with “renewed improvement efforts” supporting deliberate progress throughout Texas and Iowa, amongst different states. It is also increasing its West Coast presence, with a gap in Oro Valley, Ariz., within the spring.
“This 12 months confirmed what is feasible when franchisees, crew members and visitors consider in that mission,” Sacco mentioned within the launch. “We expanded into new markets, earned recognition from our trade and created significant moments for the communities we love. As we glance towards 2026, we’re dedicated to conserving that spirit on the middle of all the things we do.”
The corporate debuted a meals truck in October 2025, in response to stories. (Completely happy Joe’s Pizza / Unknown)
Whereas the corporate has reported huge success over the previous few years, that doesn’t go with out experiencing routine inflationary pressures. Sacco shared that regardless of these pressures, he “resurrected” the unique merchandise that Whitty was utilizing simply previous to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So when everyone was taking successful, we noticed an uptick in gross sales,” Sacco mentioned. “That uptick continued, actually, up till the tip of [2025].”
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Sacco mentioned that this effort felt like he was “going to go in opposition to the grain.”
“It was virtually like I used to be going to go in opposition to the grain, not as a result of I wanted to do one thing completely different, as a result of I believed that when the long-term franchisees have been saying, ‘Tom, if there’s something we are able to inform you, [it’s to] comply with the recipe [Whitty] had,’” mentioned Sacco.
The model can be deeply concerned in philanthropic work and neighborhood involvement. In keeping with their web site, the corporate has received quite a few awards and created quite a lot of packages with a view to “give again to the communities who’ve helped make [them] so profitable.”
The restaurant has varied places all through the Quad Cities space and is seeking to develop into Texas, Arizona and extra, in response to Sacco. (Completely happy Joe’s Pizza / Unknown)
In an emotional second, Sacco mentioned that whereas the corporate is a enterprise, “the calling [of Happy Joe’s Pizza] is a lot extra.”
The corporate hosts an annual occasion known as Completely happy Joe’s Vacation Events for Kids with Particular Wants. This 12 months, the corporate reported that roughly 2,000 kids have been in attendance. Sacco mentioned that these moments are what “juice him up” for the long run.
“It’s so touching to me to see these children care that a lot a few pizza,” Sacco mentioned with tears in his eyes. “It’s not the pizza, it’s the magic that the pizza creates for them.”
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As the corporate continues progress efforts in 2026, Sacco mentioned he plans to proceed to be a “servant chief.”
“I attempt to be the perfect servant chief I might be. I attempt to lead by instance… For those who care, that’s what you do,” Sacco mentioned. “I feel bringing again caring to Completely happy Joe’s was one of many lacking components.”
