Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) today announced that domestic systemwide comparable sales for the four weeks ended May 27, 2001 increased 0.3%, composed of a 1.6% increase at franchised units and a 3.1% decrease at company-owned restaurants. Total systemwide international sales increased 28.4% for the four-week period, on a constant U.S. dollar basis, over the comparable period last year.

The company noted that rising cheese costs for the second quarter have been mitigated by the fixed price of cheese to Papa John's restaurants established at the beginning of the quarter. The company confirmed its previously issued earnings per share guidance for the second quarter in the range of $0.46 - $0.53.