Papa John's reports fifth straight quarter of declining sales

[pstokely]

Source: CNN

Papa John's reported declining sales for the fifth straight quarter on Tuesday.

Sales at North American stores open at least a year fell 8.1% in the last three months of 2018, the company said during its fourth quarter and full year earnings release. For the year, that figure was 7.3%
The fourth-quarter was still an improvement over the previous quarter, when North American same-store sales dipped 9.8%.
"The North American results are disappointing to all of us," said CEO Steve Ritchie during a call with analysts on Tuesday. They "continue to reflect the consumer's sentiment challenges our brand has experienced in the U.S."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/26/business/papa-johns-earnings/index.html

[wasupaloopa]

1. Hope you keep up the poor work.

[oldsoftie]

2. For delivery, I always preferred Dominos. I dont care much for Papa Johns sauce.

Cant remember the last time i had one.

[Glamrock]

7. Yep

Only pizza I've ever had that consistently gives me heartburn.

[TheBlackAdder]

9. Dominos, Papa Johns and Little Ceasars I believe are all RW companies. I haven't used any since 2015

[underpants]

10. Didn't know that about Little Ceasars

It's good for the price. The owner paid Rosa Parks rents for a couple decades after she moved to Detroit. We found that out after he died.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. Little Ceasars is Dem owned. I made a morning mistake. I even posted otherwise earlier.

.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10021802678

.

[underpants]

23. Okay

I’ll just add that to your ledger

The owner owned the Red Wings too which, is by all accounts, one of the best run sports operations in the world. He kept them in downtown Detroit long after everyone else had bailed.

[CurtEastPoint]

11. Little Caesars founder quietly paid Rosa Parks' rent for years

https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/us/mike-ilitch-rosa-parks-trnd/index.html

[TheBlackAdder]

18. Perhaps I should have read my prior post. But, while Dems, they donate to both parties.

.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10021802678

.

[Submariner]

13. The Little Caesars owner secretly paid for Rosa Parks rent for years until her death,

donated to the revitalization of some parts of Detroit, and I don't believe was linked as a right winger.

I may be biased, but as chain store pizza goes, they make a good pepperoni pizza.

[marble falls]

15. They also work hard to get minority and veteran franchisees and that never gets put ...

into their advertising campaigns.

[lunasun]

34. ++yes they did & Little Caesars should not be lumped with Papa Johns or Dominos

[Dave Starsky]

17. Little Caesar's is the best pizza deal going.

And like you said, it's really not too bad.

It's not local pizzeria good, but it's not $25 a pie, either.

[jmowreader]

46. The Extramostbestest is really good

They make those to order, and you can put whatever toppings you want on them.

[The Truth Is Here]

63. Hell no on Little Caesar's

Owner was Mike Ilitch who passed away a few months ago. Big Dem. Big Obama supporter.

[Polybius]

68. Damn, I'm eating Dominos as we speak

[Roy Rolling]

3. Too Close to the Sun

Papa John's owner thought being a right-wing loudmouth would attract his rich Republican friends to buy pizza. Apparently, not enough to offset the families like me who no longer order their pizza because I boycott morons like him and Home Depot.

They all think those Trump wax wings allow them to fly to the sun.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Hot metaphor! . . . nt

[still_one]

5. In general it is never good policy for a business that serves the public to express political

preference. It is a double edged sword.

[Farmer-Rick]

32. Eh, it didn't hurt during Jim Crow

If you take the popular political position it actually helps.

And if you abuse minorities like everyone else does in a capitalist economy, then you get more for your hire because you get to pay the minority less and save money on poor benefits and not maintaining good/safe working conditions for them. Like saving money NOT providing women full health coverage.

Strange that with all that advantage, Papa Johns still failed.

[still_one]

39. The problem is you never know Rick, and the public can change on a dime. Papa Johns obviously has

more problems then the ex-racist CEO

[Fullduplexxx]

6. Womp womp and thoughts and prayers

[keithbvadu2]

8. What happens when neo-Nazis hijack your brand

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141945182

What happens when neo-Nazis hijack your brand

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/what-happens-when-nazis-hijack-your-brand/2017/11/16/8871c7ba-c98f-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html?utm_term=.5bd8c1cfc790&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1
.
“We were going to order from the local place where we get pizza all the time, but we said no, Papa John’s is the official pizza of the alt-right now,” said Eli Mosley, the 26-year-old leader of the white separatist group Identity Evropa. “We’re just supporting the brands that support us.”
.
http://www.newsweek.com/papa-johns-tells-nazis-dont-buy-our-pizza-after-chain-claimed-official-pie-alt-702296


The Daily Stormer posted a picture of a swastika pizza after the CEO of official NFL sponsor Papa Johns blamed his company’s recent losses on players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality.
.

[Sherman A1]

12. The local pizza place is much better

And the money stays in the community. The owner seems like a decent sort and collects for the food pantry as well.

[EarthFirst]

27. This.

Took us forever to find a local joint; however we travel just a bit further than I’d prefer for pizza on Friday nights just because of what you mention...

[marble falls]

14. The worst thing that ever happened to Papa John's was Papa John. You just can't screw ...

your employees while giving literally millions to sports figures.

[appleannie1943]

16. I don't like the sauce on Papa John's pizza.

I think it is too sweet or something. We sometimes eat at Pizza Hut and if in a hurry grab a pizza to eat at home at Dominos or I make my own.

[luvs2sing]

33. Only tried Papa John's one time.

About twenty years ago. We all hated the terrible sweet sauce. We are fortunate to live within a mile of five of the best non-chain pizza places in Columbus. We are truly blessed. 😂🍕😂🍕😂

[appleannie1943]

40. The guy that had the local non-chain pizza/Italian sub place in my rural area retired.

Such a shame. I don't know why some people seem to think you have to put a lot of sugar in tomato sauce. I don't put any in mine. If it tastes too acidic, I add a pinch of baking soda. Just a pinch. It neutralizes the acid. And I only use fresh herbs and just enough to enhance the tomatoes, not overwhelm them.

[dalton99a]

58. Sauce is "full of sugar"

https://www.popsugar.com/food/Papa-John-Secrets-Revealed-43605608
The Very Obvious Reason Papa John's Pizza Tastes Sweet, According to a Former Employee

Have you ever wondered why that addictive red sauce has a sweet aftertaste? After making this observation, a Reddit user asked the employee why the pizza tastes as though "the red sauce is candied." According to the employee, there's a simple reason for that. "It's full of sugar," he said.

[Freddie]

20. Lousy pizza

It’s sauce and cheese on bread, doesn’t melt into “pizza”. We have lots of good local places here. For chains, Pizza Hut is ok, we just got a Little Caesars here, will try.

[HuskyOffset]

21. Perhaps . . .

. . . it's a shithole pizza place?

[NurseJackie]

22. Lousy pizza. Lousy leadership. That's Papa John's.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. The newer Mod Pizza and Blaze Pizza are cutting into market share

and Papa John is an asshole, so there's that too.

My favorite was always Mr Gattis, but I don't have any by me anymore.

[Initech]

43. In California we have Pieology.

I can go there and get a pizza and a beer for $15 and it's so much better than eating Papa John's.

[jmowreader]

47. Mod Pizza is millennial food, nothing more

If you don’t love cracker crusts, go elsewhere. The concept is great, but I can wait a few minutes more for a tender pie.

[hatrack]

25. Make shitty pizza, report shitty earnings

.

[gopiscrap]

26. good, the owner is a republican asshole

and they have shitty pizzas

[Freethinker65]

28. Thoughts and prayers

[Codeine]

29. Tragic, tragic news.

[pamdb]

30. papa johns

That's because their pizza is crap.

[crazycatlady]

31. I don't like how they put toppings under the cheese

Especially things like pepperoni. I'm a vegetarian (and before that could not eat nitrates) and it was hard to know which pizza was the pepperoni at work events. With other places, I could easily see and if necessary pick off the toppings.

[Farmer-Rick]

35. Oh yeah, Pepperoni has to go on top

Then it gets crispy like bacon ummmm...

I just didn't like the taste of their pizza. Once found a dead roach on the outside of the pizza box when I ordered delivery. So that turned me off it too. Too much protein.

[Midnight Writer]

64. Our local shop does "Stand Up Pepperoni". They twist the pepperoni so it stands high and crisps.

[Farmer-Rick]

65. Ummmmm. That sounds great.

[sarcasmo]

36. Pepe John's will be bankrupt soon, terrible pizza and a Racist owner.

[GatoGordo]

37. Cheering for economic failure?

Is that what it has come to? Leading the cheer for unemployment? Lost productivity? Lost wages and tax base?

It is my understanding that "Papa John" is no longer associated with "Papa John's".

[IronLionZion]

56. Keep calm and seize the means of pizza production

Trump should subsidize it and pass some tariffs

[maxrandb]

70. Yes, we must all eat shit for scraps

Fuck that noise.

Wouldn't want to upset our benevolent "job creaters". We should just be quiet and thankful that they let some crumbs fall on the floor for our families.

[masmdu]

38. Here's a great business idea...Don't make shitty pizza...

[GatoGordo]

45. Let me be the Devils Advocate

I build custom homes. (analogous to a full service pizzeria)

I build homes that are out of the price range of 85% of Americans. Should all home builders just build high end, custom homes? Or is there a market for entry level "shitty" homes that 85% of Americans can afford and appreciate?

?

If you are not in business and know nothing about job creation or marketing, your business advice sounds a bit silly to those of us who are.

But, if you are in business, I'm always happy to learn something valuable. Then you should elucidate.

[jmowreader]

49. I'm going to devils-advocate you

There is a market for pizza in all price ranges. Papa John’s is failing not because they make low-priced pizza, but because the low-priced pizza they make doesn’t taste good.

In home building terms, Papa John’s sells pizza with no felt under the shingles.

[GatoGordo]

60. As I mentioned, I am willing to take advice (and be educated) by those in business

Papa John's is failing for any number of reasons. Including having a moron as the former CEO.

The chain ISN'T failing because people who love cheap, shitty pizza suddenly hate cheap shitty pizza.

In home building terms, Papa Johns has a marketing problem. His cheap shitty pizza hasn't changed.

[masmdu]

50. We have several pizzerias here....same price as PJs but they taste good...so I buy them.

[IronLionZion]

53. PJ's is in a very competitive segment and the market has spoken

that's why their sales have been declining, not because DUers are too socialist to know about basic business principles. At any price point, value is in the eye of the consumer, and there are better options for entry level pizza as many have posted in this thread.

In Soviet Russia, pizza affords and appreciates you.

[Dave Starsky]

59. There may be a market for "shitty" homes...

That won't burst into flame when you plug a space heater into the wall, or that won't hemorrhage heat because there was never any insulation installed. There probably is a market for affordable homes that are fit to live in, though they may not be as big, beautiful, etc., as the homes you're used to building/selling.

[GatoGordo]

61. Excellent analogy

Are Papa Johns pizzas toxic?
Are they shittier than ordinary shitty cheap pizza?
Are they shittier and/or more expensive shit than before?

If not, then Papa Johns has a marketing problem. This excuse that Papa Johns makes "shitty pizza" doesn't hold water, brought to us by people who don't know fuck all about business, nor have created a single job.

The business went from a one store operation to a multinational corporation.

[BlueIdaho]

41. Thoughts and Prayers

Motherfuckers...

[dhill926]

42. eat local...

[littlemissmartypants]

69. +1000

Climate Science 101

[Marthe48]

44. I stopped buying there

when john schattner voiced his opinion on abortion. I continued my personal boycott when he bitched about increasing minimum wages and continued boycotting after his racial slurs in the team-building exercise. We have 2 locally based pizza places that offer tasty pizzas, so I doubt I'll ever buy papa john's again.

[TexasBushwhacker]

62. I wasn't aware he was anti-choice too

I thought that was just Domino's forte. Original co-owner Tom Monaghan has supported Operation Rescue and Right to Life. Super Catholic, he's building a town, Ave Maria, FL, where he claims that sales of pornography and contraceptives will be prohibited.

Even before Papa John Schattner started bitching about Obamacare and Colin K taking a knee, I was thoroughly disgusted with his retched excess display of wealth. He has a turntable floor in his garage that helps him park the 22 vehicles, including limousines, that he keeps at his house. This is the guy who was unwilling to raise the price of his shitty pizzas 14 cents to cover health insurance for his full time employees. Instead, he recommened that franchise owners cut as many workers down to 29 hours as possible. What a dick!

[Marthe48]

66. I heard something when bush was in the White House

I just looked, but I can't find a reference to the comments. I haven't eaten papa john's pizza for a long time

[Honeycombe8]

48. It's not smart for a business to get into politics. nt

[GatoGordo]

67. Exactly

I build custom homes and cabinets. I make it a point to stay entirely apolitical with my clients, both liberal and conservative.

I am in the business to make a profit. I cannot afford to alienate anyone. And I can assure you that not one of my customers knows my political affiliation.

If I want to talk politics, I will talk smart with my Army buddies on Saturday morning at the local choke and puke.

[TEB]

51. Good

I heard on xm radio other night they’re tossing in two free ovens with every knee franchise opening

[Afromania]

52. Too damn bad.

[redstatebluegirl]

54. We always go with locally owned pizza shops.

[House of Roberts]

55. I have a Dominos six blocks from the house.

Costco pizza is the cheapest acceptable and it's only a little farther away, but they close so early. I have a local pizza place that's really good that just moved to a new location much closer to me, and I don't even know where a Papa John's is. The only time I ever ate it, it was paid for by my company, and it wasn't really all that good. Throw in Donatos, Marco's, Pizza Hut and other locals, and it's easy to see why they aren't popular.

[Firestorm49]

57. Aw, too bad. I tried one once. I'd rather eat my shoe.

[47of74]

71. Papa Douchenozzle's cardboard

Not sorry to see this happen.