Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZA) announced April 12 that systemwide comparable sales for the five weeks ended March 26, 2000 increased 0.6%, comprised of a 1.1% increase at company-owned restaurants and a 0.4% increase at franchised units. Systemwide comparable sales for the first quarter ended March 26, 2000 increased 3.1%, comprised of a 4.0% increase at company-owned restaurants and a 2.8% increase at franchised units (rolling over 1Q 1999 systemwide comparable sales of 7.2%, comprised of a 2.9% increase at company-owned restaurants and a 9.2% increase at franchised units).

As previously reported, the timing of the company’s 2000 winter national advertising promotion had a positive impact on February comparable sales results and a correspondingly unfavorable impact on March results, with no net impact on overall first quarter results. The company expects the timing of its 15th Anniversary national advertising promotion will have a similar impact on April and May comparable sales results.The timing of this promotion is expected to favorably impact April comparable sales results and unfavorably impact May results, while having no net impact on overall second quarter results.

At April 11, 2000, there were 2,348 Papa John’s restaurants (594 domestic company-owned, 1,721 domestic franchised and 33 international franchised) operating in 47 states, the District of Columbia and five international markets. Papa John’s also owns or franchises 205 Perfect Pizza restaurants (11 company-owned and 194 franchised) in the United Kingdom.