Pizza Hut Franchisee Talks About Company’s Challenges

Dallas Morning News:

The largest Pizza Hut franchisee told analysts Monday that the company does not expect a rebound in same-store-sales until late this year.

Jim Schwartz, president and chief executive of NPC International Inc., said he was disappointed and “frankly frustrated” with the company’s 12.6 percent drop in same-store-sales from continuing operations for the quarter that ended June 30.

It was the third consecutive negative quarter for the Overland Park, Kan.-based company, due in part to difficult comparisons to last year’s sales tally. That’s when Addison-based Pizza Hut launched its line of Tuscani pastas. Schwartz noted that cash-strapped consumers have been looking for less expensive meals, even among the pizza players.