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Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands said in November it was
conducting a formal review of options for Pizza Hut, which has
struggled with outdated stores and growing competition. The
chain’s U.S. same-store sales, or sales at locations open at
least a year, fell 5% last year, Yum said.
Rival Domino's, the world's largest pizza company, hasn't yet
released its full-year earnings, but its U.S. same-store sales
were up 2.7% in the first nine months of last year.
Internationally, Pizza Hut’s results have been stronger.
International same-store sales were up 1% last year, with growth
in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, Yum said. China is
Pizza Hut’s second-largest market outside the U.S., accounting
for 19% of sales.
Yum CEO Chris Turner said Wednesday that the company plans to
complete its review of options for Pizza Hut this year. He
declined to share further updates on the process.
Pizza Hut ended 2025 with 19,974 stores globally, which was 251
fewer than it had the previous year. Pizza Hut opened nearly
1,200 stores across 65 countries last year, but closures
outpaced that. Yum said Wednesday that Pizza Hut plans more
global openings in 2026 but it didn’t give details.
Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas. PepsiCo
acquired the chain in 1977 but spun off its restaurant division
— which became Yum Brands — in 1997. Yum Brands also owns KFC,
Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill.
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