---
title: "Papa John’s is Implementing Company-Wide Diversity Training to Further Distance Company from Founder"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/5e94713d-4d06-47d3-98e8-2f85e0b91e62
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/papa-johns-is-implementing-company-wide-diversity-training-to-further-distance-company-from-founder-2707655
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["Operations"]
published: 2018-08-24T23:18:43.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:34:05.651Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/b2599d906a5511aecfebb2e39466a6091813.jpg
---

# Papa John’s is Implementing Company-Wide Diversity Training to Further Distance Company from Founder

**TL;DR:** Papa John's is implementing company-wide diversity training to distance itself from founder John Schnatter. The move is part of the pizza chain's efforts to improve diversity and inclusion practices.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-08-24. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/papa-johns-is-implementing-company-wide-diversity-training-to-further-distance-company-from-founder-2707655).*

## Story

Pizza giant Papa John’s is mandating diversity training for all staff members as ousted founder John Schnatter ramps up his efforts to regain control over the pizza franchise he still maintains a majority ownership stake in. The move is the latest development in the acrimonious fallout from Schnatter’s resignation and subsequent lawsuit against the company in recent months.

In an open letter published to the brand’s website, Papa John’s CEO Steve Ritchie said the pizza chain is consulting experts on how to improve diversity and inclusion practices. Richie also noted Papa John’s is planning system-wide unconscious racial bias training for employees and taking steps to bring more diversity to its employee and franchisee base.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- Papa Johns (company)
- company culture (topic)
- founder controversy (topic)
- diversity training (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/papa-johns-is-implementing-company-wide-diversity-training-to-further-distance-company-from-founder-2707655). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/5e94713d-4d06-47d3-98e8-2f85e0b91e62).