Papa John’s founder John Schnatter will step down as the company’s CEO next month---weeks after he made disparaging remarks about the NFL.
Schnatter criticized the NFL’s leadership over the U.S. national anthem protests.
“The NFL has hurt us,” Schnatter said back November. “We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this.”
Papa John’s is the official pizza company of the NFL, and it often features former superstar quarterback Peyton Manning in its commercials.
“The NFL was eighth of the top 10 prime time shows. So it’s experiencing a significant decline, which is leading us to have to look at other investment to create that consumer preference of our brand,” Brandon Rhoten, who is the chief marketing officer with Papa John’s, said in an earnings call.
He also said that customers had a negative view of the chain’s association with the NFL.
Ritchie didn’t tell AP if his NFL comments played a role in the move.
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