The American restaurant franchise Papa John’s is closing all its locations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Franchisee cites revenue decline, rising costs
Restaurateur Daniyar Monolbai announced on social media that his company is ending its role as the master franchisee for Papa John’s in both countries. He said the decision was necessary due to a prolonged drop in revenue and increasing operating costs.
«All available funds were directed toward the most important payments: salaries, taxes, rental obligations and partial debt repayment. In Kazakhstan, we also managed to help most of our employees continue working at other companies,» Monolbai said.
Legal procedures underway
According to Monolbai, the company’s remaining obligations are now being handled through a legal process, which he noted will take time and must be completed step by step.
Papa John’s first entered the Kazakh market in 2017. In November 2025, Forbes reported that Uzbekistan-based Bellissimo Pizza would open in place of six former Papa John’s locations in Almaty.
