Page 70 - BWM Dec 2012

70 | Business World Magazine | December 2012
owner was considering selling the shop to
one of his delivery drivers. Turns out, the de-
livery guy was intentionally doing a bad job.
He hoped that by driving down the business,
he would later be able to negotiate a better
purchase price. Krouse says Grote quickly
learned how the actions of one selfish mal-
content could negatively impact store own-
ers and customers alike. So, all those years
ago, Jim Grote made a vow that if he was
ever in a position to run his own business,
he would do things the right way and work
with the right people. He got that chance af-
ter borrowing money from his father as well
as the man who would become his Father-
in-Law. In 1963, Grote opened the first Do-
natos, naming it after a Latin term that refers
to something bestowed as a gift. After fran-
chising the business, he would go on to be-
stow each with operating principals that re-
affirm service, accountability, respectfulness
by treating others the way one would wish to
be treated himself, and exceeding expecta-
tions too. Krouse says this is why every large
Donatos pepperoni pizza is edge-to-edge
replete with more than 100 palate-pleasing
pepperonis. Who knew principles could be
so delicious?