, Columnist
Papa John's Has Much Bigger Problems Than the NFL
The national-anthem controversy was a smokescreen for deeper challenges.
Sales take a knee.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Last year, John Schnatter got his pizza empire, Papa John's International Inc., in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Comparable sales growth had slowed in North America. And instead of simply pledging to step up the restaurant's game, the Papa John's founder and CEO at the time pointed a finger at the NFL.