Units : 4,464 Franchised : Yes 2014 Gross Sales : $ 3 billion

When a company ’ s founder and CEO is outspoken and larger than life , you never know if that will affect sales for better or worse . But while Papa John ’ s CEO John Schnatter has a big presence and a big personality to match , it ’ s the pizza and the business that keep consumers coming back . After a couple of years as the fourth largest pizza chain in the United States , Papa John ’ s is back on top this year thanks in no small part to its tech savvy early adoption of mobile and online ordering , which now reportedly accounts for more than 50 percent of its sales .

www . papajohns . com

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