# Athlete-Approved Pizzas The Papa John's Shaq-a-Roni Pizza was Created with Shaquille O'Neal By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2020-07-03 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaqaroni-pizza References: [chewboom](https://www.chewboom.com/2020/06/29/papa-johns-introduces-new-shaq-a-roni-pizza-in-collaboration-with-shaquille-oneal/) & [papajohns](http://www.papajohns.com) The [Papa John's Shaq-a-Roni Pizza](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaqaroni-stuffed-sticks) is a new offering from the pizza brand created in collaboration with [iconic basketball player Shaquille O'Neal](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaqalicious-xl-gummies) that will offer consumers a tasty way to satisfy their hunger. The pizza starts off with an extra-large pizza that is topped with extra cheese and [extra pepperoni](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/triple-crown-pepperoni-pizza) before being baked to perfection. Once ready, the pizza is then cut into slices that are reported to be the largest the brand has ever cut, which is suiting given the now-infamous stature that O'Neal has come to be known for. The Papa John's Shaq-a-Roni Pizza is being launched alongside a Snapchat augmented reality (AR) experience that will allow fans to reveal a 3D surprise within the app when they aim the camera at the box. $1 from every pizza purchased with will donated to The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 71% | Activity: 92% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Celeb Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/celebproducts) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Celebrity Collaborations:** Opportunity for brands to team up with popular figures in order to create unique products and expand their customer base. - **Augmented Reality Marketing:** Incorporating interactive and immersive technology into advertising can help brands to create buzz and engage with customers in a creative and memorable way. - **Social Cause Tie-ins:** Associating products with a charitable cause can attract socially conscious customers and contribute to positive impact in the community. ### Who This Affects Most - **Food and Beverage:** Companies can work with celebrities and athletes to create unique product collaborations and campaigns that drive interest and sales. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Augmented reality and other innovative marketing techniques can help businesses reach customers in new and engaging ways, resulting in improved brand awareness and customer loyalty. - **Non-profit:** Partnering with businesses to create social cause tie-ins can raise awareness and funds for important causes, while also allowing companies to make a positive impact in their communities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Stuffed Pizza Sticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shaqaroni-stuffed-sticks.md) - [Oversized Pizzeria Menu Items](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-grand-papa-pizza.md) - [Meaty Football-Shaped Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/football-pizza.md) - [Cup-Shaped Pepperoni Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/papa-johns-1.md) - [Protein-Rich Pizza Crusts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/protein-crust-pizza.md) - [Extra-Cheesy Pepperoni-Packed Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/epic-pepperonistuffed-crust-pizza.md) - [Savory Cheese-Seasoned Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/garlic-5cheese-crust-pizza.md) - [Oven-Baked Pizza Pasta Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/papa-bowls.md) - [New York-Style Pizza Launches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ny-style-pizza.md)