Papa John's Wins Major National Customer Satisfaction Survey; Pizza Chain Recognized as Leader of All National Fast Food Chains in American Customer Satisfaction Index

Business Wire, Feb 26, 2001

Business Editors

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2001

Consumers have rewarded Papa John's (Nasdaq:PZZA) commitment to quality and customer satisfaction by rating the pizza chain number one in customer satisfaction among all national fast food restaurants. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), released last week by The National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan Business School, rated Papa John's above the national average for all industries, ahead of restaurant industry leaders McDonald's, Wendy's and KFC, and seven percentage points higher than its closest pizza competitor. This is Papa John's second consecutive ACSI survey win.

According to the press release issued by the American Society for Quality, "Papa John's demonstrates that it is possible to have high levels of customer satisfaction in the fast food industry. With a score of 77, it is not only well above the national average for all industries, it is much above the average of its industry."

"We're honored to receive this recognition from our customers for the second year in a row," said John H. Schnatter, Papa John's Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Our commitment to providing our customers with superior-quality pizza and customer service is being rewarded in the marketplace. I thank and congratulate all of the franchisees and 65,000-plus team members in the Papa John's family who made this happen."

Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, Papa John's focus from day one has been "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." Its goal is to use high-quality ingredients to make its customers a superior-quality, traditional pizza. Papa John's makes the crust of every traditional pizza with fresh dough (never frozen) prepared with clear-filtered water in the company's regional quality control centers. Papa John's uses only fresh-packed tomato sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes, cheese made with 100% mozzarella and other high-quality toppings.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index survey was conducted by the National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan Business School in partnership with the American Society for Quality and the CFI Group. During the fourth quarter of 2000, 12,500 current customers of the companies included in the survey were asked questions about their expectations and perceptions of value and quality. Copies of the survey results may be obtained by visiting www.bus.umich.edu/research/nqrc/Q4-00.html.> Papa John's has also been voted Best Pizza in more than 60 markets throughout the country and for four consecutive years in the Restaurants and Institutions prestigious Choice in Chains Survey.

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZA) is the fastest growing pizza company in America. At February 23, 2001, there were 2,623 Papa John's restaurants (1,992 franchised and 631 company-owned) operating in 49 states and ten international markets. Papa John's also owns or operates an additional 205 restaurants operating under the Perfect Pizza name in the United Kingdom. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit the company at www.papajohns.com.

                           AMERICAN CUSTOMER
                          SATISFACTION INDEX

All Fast Food Restaurants                       Score
-------------------------                       -----
Papa John's                                       77
Group Average                                     70
Pizza Hut                                         70
Wendy's                                           70
Domino's                                          69
Little Caesars                                    69
Burger King                                       67
KFC                                               65
Taco Bell                                         63
McDonald's                                        59

      Source: The American Customer Satisfaction Index, National Quality
Control Center at the University of Michigan (in partnership with The
American Society for Quality and the CFI Group), as reported in The
Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2001. Based on 12,500 telephone
surveys completed during the fourth quarter of 2000; out of a possible
score of 100.