According to Telegraph.co.uk, “Papa John’s, which is still headed by founder John Schnatter, 48, has ambitious plans for between 400 and 500 shops in Britain in five years time.”

“Last week the company opened a new dough factory in Milton Keynes, where Domino’s is based. The company has around 120 shops at present, with around 60 in London, compared with Domino’s 627 UK stores. Papa John’s and Domino’s have both benefited from a surge in UK demand for takeaway pizza in recent years, with Domino’s sales up 13.7pc in the first half, and Papa John’s up 9.7pc in the second quarter, the most recent period each has reported. More than £20bn of pizzas are sold in the UK every year. Jude Thompson, co-chief executive at Kentucky-based Papa John’s, says the UK is now racing ahead of the US in terms of demand. In its home market, the company’s like-for-like sales have been flat. Papa John’s has 3,000 stores around the world, in locations including China, Korea and Bahrain, as well as the US and UK.”