An American pizza chain has shuttered dozens of restaurants across the US just months after announcing the closure of hundreds of sites this year. Papa Johns International, which provides pizza delivery and takeout services, has closed locations across 17 US states so far this year. The company had 3,487 sites across North America as of the end of March, the vast majority of which operate under franchise agreements. Back in February, the firm announced it would close up to 300 locations through to the end of 2027, with two-thirds of those closures expected to take place this year. Papa Johns has been battling falling sales for a number of reasons, among them shifting consumer preferences away from pizza, soaring operating costs, and an increasingly cost-conscious dining public. Rival Pizza Hut has similarly shuttered a number of its restaurants, with parent company Yum Brands now reported to be weighing up a sale of the chain. Papa Johns has been battling falling sales for a number of reasons, among them shifting consumer preferences away from pizza, soaring …