Papa John's profit falls as cheese prices weigh

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pizza delivery company Papa John's International Inc (PZZA.O) on Tuesday posted lower quarterly net earnings as it booked a $5.2 million loss related to its franchisee-owned cheese purchasing company.

Net income at the Louisville, Kentucky-based pizza chain was $8.6 million, or 30 cents per share in the first quarter, compared with its year-earlier net income of $13.2 million, or 43 cents per share.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; editing by Carol Bishopric)