According to a news report from shanghaidaily.com, “Papa John’s International Inc said yesterday it plans to open 500 outlets in China over the next five years as the country becomes the driving force for its global business expansion.”
“China will be our No. 1 market (outside the United States) within five years,” founder John H. Schnatter said yesterday in Shanghai where the company celebrated the opening of its 100th store in China since it entered the market in 2003.,” said the story. “The world’s third largest pizza company plans to open more outlets, both wholly-owned and franchised, in the nation’s tier-one cities as well as in rural areas as it aggressively expands to cover the whole country.”