USA: Appeals court upholds “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.” slogan

In a closely watched advertising dispute, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today reversed a lower court's ruling prohibiting Papa John's from using its "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." slogan. The decision culminates a two-year legal battle in which Pizza Hut attempted three times (twice before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau and once in federal court) to require its rival to change its federally trademarked slogan. "We're obviously pleased the court upheld our slogan," said John Schnatter, Papa John's Founder and CEO. "It really describes what we're about at Papa John's. We're fanatics about quality ingredients and quality pizza!" Since 1993, Papa John's share of the $22 billion pizza category has increased 600%, with the company achieving $1.4 billion in systemwide sales in 1999. "We feel vindicated by the ruling," said Syl Sosnowski, Papa John's Vice President of Marketing. "We have a great quality story to tell at Papa John's that the world needs to hear." For four straight years, Papa John's has earned the highest quality and customer satisfaction ratings among national pizza chains in the prestigious Restaurants and Institutions' Choice in Chains survey. And in its first year of being included in another national survey, Papa John's earned the highest rating among all national fast food restaurants American Customer Satisfaction Index (conducted by The National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan Business School, fourth quarter 1999). Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. At September 18, 2000, there were 2,479 Papa John's restaurants (611 company-owned and 1,868 franchised) operating in 48 states and eight international markets. Papa John's also owns or franchises 204 Perfect Pizza restaurants (7 company-owned and 197 franchised) in the United Kingdom. For more information about the company, visit Papa John's at