American pizza boss Christopher Wynne plans to keep his Russian Papa John's restaurants open despite the corporate office severing ties with the nation
His company operates 190 Papa John's restaurants in Russia, which are owned by independent traders, who buy stock from his head office
Wynne sought out local suppliers after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and now gets everything bar olives from within his adopted homeland
Wynne said his 'interest is first and foremost my employees and franchisees and keeping the lines of cultural exchange with the Russian people open'
He believes Papa John's is 'worried about corporate and political winds' whereas he is focused on doing what's best for his employees and community members
Papa John's is just one of several fast-food chains to halt or limit operations in Russia in wake of the war
Some analysts allege the suspension of operations could destroy franchisees
An American Papa John's boss living in Russia plans to keep all the country's pizza shops open despite the brand announcing last week that it was suspending all of its corporate operations in the country over the war on Ukraine.
Christopher Wynne, a Colorado native who has lived and worked in Russia part time since the early 2000s, said Papa Johns will continue to operate all 190 of its stores there, even after the US-based head office said they'd be closing.
He is able to ignore that edict because the Russian outlets are owned by franchisees, who buy their supplies from an independent company that he owns. Wynne began working with local suppliers when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and now gets almost all of his produce from within the country - except for olives.