[ad_1]
NEW YORK (AP) – Papa John's became "Shaq-ified".
The pizza chain announced Friday that Shaquille O'Neal, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, would be his new pitch player, appearing in TV commercials and promoting Papa John's in another way. The company hopes that O'Neal will be able to repair its image and relaunch its sales after its founder, John Schnatter, made racist remarks.
In addition to being a spokesperson, O'Neal will also join the company's board of directors and invest in nine of its restaurants in the Atlanta area.
"If you want to enjoy a good pizza and feel loved by those who serve it, you can go home now," O'Neal said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Daddy" is here. "
Papa John's problems began in 2017, when Schnatter criticized the NFL leadership and accused football players of protesting the decline in pizza sales. Last year, it was revealed that he had used a racial insult during a media training session. Schnatter apologized for the bond and the company cleaned his face of the company logo and pizza boxes. He is still the largest shareholder of the company based in Louisville, Kentucky.
O'Neal said Schnatter's comments were "not acceptable" and told the company's executives he needed more diversity in his leadership. He says he is the first African-American to join Papa John's board.
"We want to create a culture that allows everyone to know that they are loved, accepted and desired," O'Neal said.
Papa John's International Inc. said it would pay O'Neal more than $ 8 million in cash and shares of the company for the three-year endorsement.
Wall Street seems to think that it is a winning partnership. Papa John's shares climbed more than 6% on Friday.
[ad_2]
Source link
