our history
How did we begin?
We started our life in 1958 when Frank and Dan Carney opened the first Hut in Wichita, Kansas. The first Pizza Hut restaurant was only small, with enough room for 25 seats; the restaurant sign only had space for nine letters. Frank and Dan wanted to have 'Pizza' in the name, which left space for just 3 more letters. Because the building looked like a hut... Pizza Hut was born! Fifteen years later, the first UK restaurant opened. Since then we have grown to become the biggest Pizza Company on the planet. We're the UK's leading pizza restaurant and delivery chain too, with over 600 outlets across the country. We are part of Yum Restaurants International (who also own KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silver's, A & W and Pizza Hut Worldwide).
2006 Whitbread sells their share of the joint venture to Yum! Brands Inc. Pizza Hut UK Ltd is now 100% owned by Yum! Cheesy Bites is launched! 697 restaurants now in the UK! 154 stores are franchise owned by 61 franchisees.
2005 The 4forALL is launched. Over 600 restaurants now open in the UK. 70 of them are Franchise units
2004 Pizza Hut launch The Big New Yorker
2003 500 restaurants are now open throughout the UK, employing over 20,000 people.
2002 Tricon Global becomes YUM! Brands Inc. The Quad Pizza is launched in the UK. Pizza Hut opens its 500th restaurant. A & W and Long John Silver's join the Yum brand.
2001 Pizza Hut begins a franchising programme with its delivery stores
2000 Pizza Hut introduces The Edge, a thin pizza with toppings all the way round the edge
1999 Pizza Hut has over 400 restaurants, employing 14000 people. The Italian Pizza is launched in the UK
1998 Pan Pizza is relaunched as Grand Pan in the UK
1997 PepsiCo decided to focus on their drinks business. As a result, Tricon Global Restaurants is born, creating the largest restaurant brand in the World. Tricon became the partner company with Whitbread. The Sicilian Pizza is launched in the UK. There are 277 restaurants and 100 delivery stores in the UK
1995 Stuffed Crust is launched in the UK
1994 10,000 Pizza Huts are open world-wide
1993 There are 300 restaurants and delivery stores in the UK
1992 There are 9000 restaurants in 84 countries
1990 Pizza Hut reaches Russia. In the UK there are now 200 restaurants
1989 The first restaurant is converted into a Restaurant Based Delivery store
1988 The UK's first delivery unit opens in Kingsbury, London
1987 An average of one restaurant opened each week in the UK
1986 100 restaurants in the UK and 5000 world wide
1984 50 restaurants so far in the UK
1982 UK joint venture commences between PepsiCo and Whitbread
1980 Pan Pizza Introduced
1977 PepsiCo buys Pizza Hut
1973 Pizza Hut goes international with restaurants in Japan, Canada & England. The first UK Pizza Hut opens in Islington, London
1972 1000 restaurants are open throughout the USA
1958 Frank and Dan Carney open the first Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas