History of Pizza Hut in Timeline

Pizza Hut is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain founded in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, it operates as an international franchise with 19,866 restaurants globally as of 2023. The company is a significant player in the fast-food pizza sector.

1938: Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

In July 2014, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Pizza Hut for violating the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.

May 31, 1958: Pizza Hut Launched

On May 31, 1958, Pizza Hut was launched by Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas.

1958: Company Founded

In 1958, Pizza Hut was founded in Wichita, Kansas, by brothers Dan and Frank Carney.

1959: Franchising Begins

In 1959, Pizza Hut began franchising its brand.

1960: 8th Location Opening

In 1960, the restaurant that became the oldest continuously operating Pizza Hut, opened as the 8th location in Manhattan, Kansas.

1963: Building Style Designed

In 1963, the distinctive Pizza Hut building style was designed by Chicago architect George Lindstrom.

1965: First Television Commercial Produced

In 1965, Pizza Hut's first television commercial, "Putt-Putt to the Pizza Hut," was produced by Bob Walterscheidt.

November 19, 1966: "Putt-Putt to the Pizza Hut" First Aired

On November 19, 1966, the Pizza Hut commercial "Putt-Putt to the Pizza Hut" first aired during halftime of the Notre Dame vs. Michigan State game.

1966: First Restaurant East of the Mississippi

In 1966, the first Pizza Hut restaurant east of the Mississippi River was opened in Athens, Ohio.

1969: Implementation of Building Style

In 1969, the iconic Pizza Hut building style was implemented.

April 1970: Expansion to Australia

Pizza Hut expanded to Australia in April 1970, opening its first dine-in restaurant in Belfield.

1973: Pizza Hut opens in the UK

In 1973, Pizza Hut first opened in the UK.

1974: First Pizza Hut in New Zealand

In 1974, the first Pizza Hut store in New Zealand was established in New Lynn by businessman Garry Melville-Smith, who bought the franchise rights for the country.

1975: Testing Applegate's Landing Concept

In 1975, Pizza Hut began testing concepts with Applegate's Landing, restaurants with Colonial-style exteriors and eclectic interiors.

1976: Original Red Roof Design

In 1976, Pizza Hut used the logo and the red roof design that was brought back in 2019.

November 1977: PepsiCo Acquisition

In November 1977, PepsiCo acquired Pizza Hut.

1977: Acquisition by PepsiCo

In 1977, Pizza Hut was acquired by PepsiCo.

1984: Book It! Program Conceived

In 1984, the Book It! reading-incentive program was conceived during a dinner with Art Gunther and Bud Gates as a way to help Gunther's son read more.

January 1985: Book It! Reading Program Started

In January 1985, Pizza Hut sponsored the Book It! reading-incentive program, rewarding students with a free Personal Pan Pizza for reaching reading goals.

1985: First Store Opened in South Korea

In 1985, Pizza Hut opened its first store in South Korea.

1987: Advertising slogan "Makin' it great!"

From 1987 to 1995, Pizza Hut's advertising slogan was "Makin' it great!".

1989: Sponsored Film Back to the Future Part II

In 1989, Pizza Hut sponsored the film Back to the Future Part II and offered free "Solar Shades" with pizza purchase.

1990: Pizza Hut Expansion in New Zealand

By 1990, 36 Pizza Hut stores had been established across New Zealand, targeting families with a dine-in restaurant service.

1990: Product placement in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game

In 1990, the NES game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game included Pizza Hut product placement and came with a coupon for a free pizza.

1991: The Pizza Head Show Commercials Aired

In 1991, a series of Pizza Hut commercials titled "The Pizza Head Show" began airing in the US.

1993: First Outlet Opened in Pakistan

In 1993, the first Pizza Hut outlet in Pakistan was opened in Karachi.

August 1994: PizzaNet Pilot Program

In August 1994, Pizza Hut and the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) announced PizzaNet, a pilot program allowing consumers to order pizza delivery over the internet.

1994: Introduction of PizzaNet

In 1994, Pizza Hut introduced PizzaNet, an early internet ordering experiment.

March 26, 1995: Stuffed Crust Pizza Introduced

On March 26, 1995, Pizza Hut introduced the "stuffed crust" pizza.

1995: Advertising slogan "You'll love the stuff we're made of"

From 1995 to 1999, the advertising slogan was "You'll love the stuff we're made of".

1995: Donald and Ivana Trump Commercial

In 1995, Donald Trump and his ex-wife Ivana Trump appeared in a Pizza Hut commercial.

1995: Introduction of Stuffed Crust Pizza

In 1995, Pizza Hut continued innovation with offerings like stuffed crust pizza.

1995: Celebrity Commercials

In 1995, Ringo Starr and Rush Limbaugh appeared in separate Pizza Hut commercials.

1995: Closure of Applegate's Landing

In late 1995, the last Applegate's Landing restaurant in McPherson, Kansas, closed.

1996: Celebrity Advertising Campaign

In 1996, Formula One driver Damon Hill and BBC commentator Murray Walker advertised Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza.

1996: Franchise Sold Back to PepsiCo

In 1996, Garry Melville-Smith sold the New Zealand Pizza Hut franchise back to PepsiCo.

May 30, 1997: Spin-off into Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc.

On May 30, 1997, PepsiCo spun off Pizza Hut, along with Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken, into a new company named Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc.

1997: PepsiCo Rebrands to Restaurant Brands

In 1997, PepsiCo rebranded the Pizza Hut franchise as Restaurant Brands.

1998: Shift to Takeaway and Delivery Service

In 1998, Pizza Hut transitioned from a dine-in restaurant chain to a takeaway and delivery service due to changing consumer behavior.

1998: Mikhail Gorbachev Commercial

In 1998, former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev starred in a Pizza Hut commercial with his granddaughter Anastasia Virganskaya to raise money for the Perestroyka Archives.

1999: Redesign of Logo and Roof

In 1999, Pizza Hut discontinued the logo and the red roof design that was brought back in 2019.

1999: "The Pizza Head Show" Ended

In 1999, Pizza Hut stopped airing "The Pizza Head Show" commercials.

1999: Advertising Slogan: Slogan Ended

In 1999, Pizza Hut stopped using the advertising slogan "You'll love the stuff we're made of".

1999: Big New Yorker Pizza Commercial

In 1999, Pizza Hut's Big New Yorker pizza commercial was featured on the PlayStation Pizza Hut Demo Disc 1, and Pizza Hut was a location in the game Crazy Taxi.

2000: Logo on Russian Rocket

In 2000, Pizza Hut paid for their logo to appear on a Russian Proton rocket, which launched the Russian Zvezda module.

2000: Acquisition of Eagle Boys' New Zealand Operations

In 2000, Restaurant Brands acquired Eagle Boys' New Zealand operations, rebranding them as Pizza Hut stores.

2001: Pizza Delivery to Space

In 2001, Pizza Hut developed a pizza to be delivered to the International Space Station. It was launched on a Soyuz and eaten by Yuri Usachov in orbit.

May 22, 2002: Renamed Yum! Brands

On May 22, 2002, Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc. assumed the name of Yum! Brands.

2002: Spin-off into Yum! Brands

In 2002, Pizza Hut was spun off into Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc., which was later renamed Yum! Brands.

2002: Book It! Program Ceased in Australia

In 2002, the Book It! program in Australia was discontinued.

2003: WingStreet Launched

In 2003, Yum! launched WingStreet in combination with existing Pizza Hut franchises.

2004: Number of Traditional Units

As of 2004, there were 6,304 traditional Pizza Hut units with shingled roofs and trapezoidal windows.

2004: Upscale Concept Unveiled

In 2004, Pizza Hut unveiled an upscale concept called Pizza Hut Italian Bistro.

2005: Restaurants in 40 Chinese Cities

In 2005, Pizza Hut had 160 restaurants in 40 Chinese cities.

October 2007: Criticism over high salt content in UK

In October 2007, Pizza Hut in the United Kingdom was criticized for the high salt content of its meals.

2007: Criticism of Book It! Program

In 2007, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood criticized the Book It! program.

2007: Interactive Marketing Initiatives

In early 2007, Pizza Hut implemented interactive marketing strategies using mobile SMS technology, MyHut ordering site, and the "MySpace Ted" campaign.

2007: Advertising Slogan Changed

Until early 2007, Pizza Hut's main advertising slogan was "Gather 'round the good stuff".

April 1, 2008: April Fool's Day "Pasta Hut" Stunt

On April 1, 2008, Pizza Hut in America sent emails and advertised on its website that it was changing its name to "Pasta Hut" as an April Fool's Day publicity stunt.

May 9, 2008: "The Natural" Pizza Created

On May 9, 2008, Pizza Hut created "The Natural" pizza, featuring natural ingredients and sold in Seattle, Denver and Dallas.

October 2008: "Pasta Hut" Signage in the UK

In October 2008, Pizza Hut UK recreated the "Pasta Hut" stunt, with ten locations in London temporarily changing their signage, solely as a PR exercise.

2008: Salt Reduction Efforts Begin

Between 2008 and 2010, Pizza Hut started reducing the salt content across its menu to meet the Food Standards Agency 2010 target.

2008: Advertising Slogan Changed

From 2008 to 2009, Pizza Hut's advertising slogan was "Now You're Eating!".

2008: Introduction of Pizza Hut Express in China

In 2008, Pizza Hut introduced "Pizza Hut Express" locations in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou in China.

October 27, 2009: "The Natural" Pizza Discontinued

On October 27, 2009, "The Natural" pizza was discontinued in the Dallas market.

2009: Advertising Slogan Changed

From 2009 to 2012, Pizza Hut's advertising slogan was "Your Favorites. Your Pizza Hut".

2010: Salt Levels Reduced

By 2010, Pizza Hut had removed over 15% of salt across its menu to meet the Food Standards Agency 2010 target for salt levels.

2010: Predicted Growth of WingStreet

By 2010, the chain predicted aggressive growth for WingStreet, adding more than 4,000 locations.

2010: 25th Anniversary of the Book It! program

In 2010, Pizza Hut celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Book It! program.

2010: Product Placement Removed from Crazy Taxi Re-release

In 2010, the product placement in the re-release of the game Crazy Taxi was removed and replaced with generic locations.

March 31, 2011: Priszm Bankruptcy

On March 31, 2011, Priszm, the owner of Pizza Hut in Canada, went into bankruptcy protection in Ontario and British Columbia.

2012: Advertising Slogan Changed

From 2012 to 2016, Pizza Hut's advertising slogan was "Make it great", a variation of the 1987–1995 slogan "Makin' it great!".

2012: Standalone WingStreet Store Opened

In 2012, Pizza Hut opened a standalone WingStreet pilot store in Denton, Texas.

July 14, 2014: Opened in Mongolia

"Tavan Bogd Foods Pizza" LLC officially opened Pizza Hut on July 14, 2014, in Mongolia.

July 2014: Class Action Lawsuit Filed

In July 2014, delivery drivers in the United States filed a class-action lawsuit over Pizza Hut "paying delivery drivers net wages below minimum wage due to unreimbursed automobile expenses".

November 19, 2014: Rebranding Announced

On November 19, 2014, Pizza Hut announced a rebrand to increase sales, which included an expanded menu and redesigned employee uniforms.

2014: Report on Traditional Units

In 2014, Curbed.com reported that there were 6,304 traditional Pizza Hut units with shingled roofs and trapezoidal windows as of 2004.

November 2015: Dismissal Attempt Failed

In November 2015, Pizza Hut's attempt to have the class-action lawsuit dismissed failed.

2015: Restaurants in China

As of 2015, Pizza Hut had 1,903 restaurants in China.

2015: Product Placement in Back to the Future Part II

In 2015, a futuristic version of Pizza Hut's logo appeared in Back to the Future Part II.

2015: Oldest Pizza Hut Closes

In 2015, the oldest continuously operating Pizza Hut, located in Manhattan, Kansas, closed.

2015: Investment in London Branches

In the 2010s, the chain saw a downturn in profits. In 2015, the franchise stated it would be pumping more capital into its London branches. Pizza Hut is installing cocktail bars in its London branches.

February 2016: Demolition of Original Dine-In Restaurant

In February 2016, the original New Lynn dine-in Pizza Hut restaurant was demolished and replaced with a takeaway store.

December 2016: Lawsuit Decided by Arbitration

In December 2016, the case, Linkovich v. Capital Pizza Huts, Inc., et al., was decided by arbitration, in which Pizza Hut paid damages.

2016: Advertising Slogan Changed

In 2016, Pizza Hut changed their advertising slogan.

2016: Sale to Allegro Funds

In 2016, private equity firm Allegro Funds and a local management team bought the master franchise agreement for Pizza Hut in Australia from Yum! Brands.

2017: Ranked in Top Influential Brands

In 2017, Pizza Hut was listed as the 24th most influential brand in the world by Richtopia.

August 2018: 324 Franchises in South Korea

As of August 2018, Pizza Hut had 324 franchises in South Korea.

2018: Opened in Ethiopia

In 2018, Pizza Hut officially opened in Ethiopia.

January 2019: Expanded Beer Delivery

In January 2019, Pizza Hut announced it had expanded beer delivery to 300 locations across the US., with plans to expand to 1,000 locations by the middle of the year.

March 2019: Return of the P'Zone

In March 2019, Pizza Hut announced the return of the P'Zone after a hiatus of several years.

June 25, 2019: Logo and Red Roof Return

On June 25, 2019, Pizza Hut announced it was bringing back the logo and the red roof design used from 1976 until 1999.

August 7, 2019: Restaurant Closures Announced

On August 7, 2019, Pizza Hut announced its intention to close about 500 dine-in restaurants in the US by the middle of 2021.

March 2020: Partnership with IKEA

In March 2020, Pizza Hut Hong Kong announced that it had partnered with furniture retailer IKEA on a joint venture, which involved a side table resembling a pizza saver and a Swedish meatball pizza.

August 18, 2020: Restaurant Closures Due to Bankruptcy

On August 18, 2020, Pizza Hut announced it would be closing up to 300 restaurants after the bankruptcy of NPC International.

March 2021: Flynn Restaurant Group Acquisition

In March 2021, Flynn Restaurant Group acquired NPC's 937 Pizza Hut locations.

2021: Stuffed Crust Pizza Anniversary

A 2021 menu addition, designed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the introduction of stuffed crust pizza, was "nothing but the stuffed crust," a ring of dough filled with cheese.

2021: Target Date for Restaurant Closures

By the middle of 2021, Pizza Hut planned to close about 500 of its dine-in restaurants in the US.

June 2023: Sale to Flynn Restaurant Group

In June 2023, Allegro sold Pizza Hut Australia to US franchise operator Flynn Restaurant Group.

2023: Global Presence

As of 2023, Pizza Hut operates 19,866 restaurants worldwide.

2023: Beyond Meat Pepperoni added to UK Pizza Hut menus

In 2023, UK Pizza Hut restaurants added Beyond Meat Pepperoni to its menus with pizzas that include the Big New Yorker with vegan cheese and Beyond Pepperoni.

March 2024: China Outlets in 700 cities

As of the end of March 2024, Pizza Hut has over 3400 outlets in over 700 cities in China.

May 2024: Penalty for Spam Messages

In May 2024, Australian franchisee Pizza Pan Group was penalized with a AU$2.5 million fine for sending 10 million marketing spam messages over four months.

June 2024: All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet Returns

In June 2024, some Pizza Hut locations reportedly brought back the all you can eat lunch buffet.

September 2024: 50th Anniversary Celebration

In late September 2024, Pizza Hut celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment in New Zealand with pop-up lunch, dinner buffet, and dessert events in Auckland.