NPC International will be bringing as many as 200 new jobs to the area ... and they’ll be renovating a vacant building to boot.
NPC, the world’s largest Pizza Hut franchisee, announced plans to locate an inbound call center in Pittsburg, located at 711 E. Washington, the former National Mills location. That call center will represent a multi-million dollar investment for the company and will handle orders for Pizza Hut customers from throughout the midwest.
Susan Dechant, NPC Chief Accounting Officer and Vice President of Administration, said that NPC utilizes call centers to improve access to their Pizza Hut locations.
“Regardless of where a customer may be located, their call will come to a central location, where they’ll be greeted by a professional trained specifically to take customer orders,” Dechant said. “The representative will be well-trained in our menu offerings to ensure the customer’s order is perfect, then that order will immediately be sent to the appropriate Pizza Hut location. This flow allows each of our employees to focus solely on particular areas of the order process.”
The Pittsburg call center will be the company’s fifth call center location. Other call centers include those in Birmingham, Ala.; Portland, Ore.; Springfield, Mo.; and suburban Memphis, Tenn.
Dechant said that NPC’s recent acquisition of the Kansas City market is the primary driving force behind the need for another call center in the central U.S. NPC has grown considerably since September 2008, adding more 250 locations. That represents a growth rate of about 30 percent in just nine months.
In making the announcement, Dechant said the company underwent a thorough site evaluation process before choosing Pittsburg. Dechant cited several factors, including the area workforce and the location’s proximity to Pittsburg State University and six different high schools.
“Although a number of these positions will be filled by working adults, we’ll rely heavily on high school and college students for after-hours and weekend shifts,” Dechant said.
The new call center’s proximity to the current NPC office facility was also a determining factor.
“Having an additional presence in Pittsburg allows us operating flexibility should either location go down,” Dechant said. “It also allows us to closely monitor the new call center to ensure it’s meeting the needs of our customers.”
Dechant said that renovation work on the former National Mills building would begin almost immediately with the call center expected to open by September 2009. Those interested in applying for positions at the call center should inquire at resume@npcinternational.com.
Local leaders lauded the company’s announcement. Steve Beykirch, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce board chairman, called the announcement “a substantial investment in Pittsburg at the right time.”
“NPC’s been a steadfast part of our community since Gene Bicknell founded the company almost 50 years ago and it’s great to see that relationship going to a new level,” Beykirch said.
Beykirch also noted the significance of Pittsburg, as a smaller community, being awarded the call center.
“It’s important to note that we weren’t just handed this project,” said Beykirch. “Early on in this process, NPC officials made it clear that they would conduct an exhaustive search and consider several different communities, many of them much larger than Pittsburg. I think area residents should consider it a badge of honor that, in the end, Pittsburg stood out as the clear choice.”
Mark Turnbull, Pittsburg director of economic development, called NPC a “vital employer in our community.”
“We are enthusiastic NPC chose to locate the call center in Pittsburg,” Turnbull added. “Also, we are appreciating the Bicknell family and Mariner Holdings assisted the business and city to expand in the former National Mills building. The opening of the call center within the former National Mills brings new life to the facility and continues to add new life within the Southeast Business and Industrial Park.”
Turnbull also noted the project’s anticipated effect on area residents.
“NPC will significantly expand its presence in Pittsburg,” Turnbull said. “This expansion could not come at a better time for Pittsburg residents. While some of these jobs are targeted to the high school and college age student the majority of employees are anticipated to be filled by adults.
“The Kansas Department of Commerce provided great support for our community and NPC during the investigation phase of this project,” Turnbull said. “Statistics and incentives offered through the State of Kansas were critical in placing the expansion in Kansas and Pittsburg. Business expansions are very competitive and complex. It is great to have partners like these assisting with this project.”
Founded in 1962 by Pittsburg business Gene Bicknell, NPC, International currently operates 1155 stores in 28 states. The company went public in 1984 and was acquired by Merrill-Lynch Global Private Equity Group in 2006, but continues to grow its Pittsburg office presence.
The local office currently employs approximately 147, with another 34 employed in the company’s local Pizza Hut locations. Once the Pittsburg call center is operational, NPC is expected to be the community’s sixth largest employer.
Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134
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