According to a news report from forbes.com, “The recession has sliced into yet another sector: pizza.”
“With dinner traffic slowing as more consumers eat at home, sales at U.S. locations open at least a year have declined at all the major pizza chains,” said the story. “But the pain hasn’t been spread equally. Domino’s Pizza Inc. and Yum Brands Inc.’s Pizza Hut are taking hits on the bottom line, while Papa John’s International Inc. managed to raise its profit in the fourth quarter even as sales dipped. Domino’s reported late Tuesday that its profit dropped 32 percent in its fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 28. Sales at locations open at least a year, known as same-store sales, fell 3 percent in the U.S. even as they climbed overseas. The company does not offer specific earnings guidance but did say it expects flat same-store sales overall in 2009.”
