**History and Ownership:**
– Founded on May 31, 1958, in Wichita, Kansas by Dan and Frank Carney.
– Franchising started in 1959.
– Iconic building style designed in 1963.
– PepsiCo acquired Pizza Hut in 1977.
– Yum! Brands became the owner in 2002.
**Concept and Innovation:**
– Various formats: family-style dine-in, delivery/carry-out, and hybrid locations.
– Tested concepts like Applegates Landing in 1975.
– Introduced upscale concept Pizza Hut Italian Bistro in 2004.
– Introduced PizzaNet for internet ordering in 1994.
– Stuffed crust pizza introduced in 1995.
**Challenges and Recognition:**
– Closure of dine-in locations in the US.
– Bankruptcy protection for Pizza Hut in Canada in 2011.
– Rebranding efforts in 2014 to boost sales.
– Listed as the 24th most influential brand in the world in 2017.
– Plans to close 500 dine-in restaurants in the US in 2019.
**International Presence:**
– Global presence under Yum! Brands in numerous countries.
– Significant expansion in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
– Successful operations in China with a fine-dining atmosphere catering to local tastes.
– Challenges faced in former markets like Russia and Panama.
**Advertising and Marketing:**
– First TV commercial aired in 1965.
– Various advertising slogans used over the years.
– Introduction of WingStreet in 2003 for chicken wing menu.
– Interactive marketing efforts like SMS technology and user-submission contests.
– Sponsorship of the Book It! reading-incentive program since 1985.
Pizza Hut is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain and international franchise founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas by Dan and Frank Carney. The chain, headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates 19,866 restaurants worldwide as of 2023.
  Pizza Hut classic logo revived in the United States since 2019, alongside different logo used for the international markets since 2014 | |
 The distinctive roof shape and lettering style shown here on this Pizza Hut in Athens, Ohio, were typical of U.S. Pizza Huts. | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Genre | Casual dining take-out |
| Founded | May 31, 1958 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | 7100 Corporate Dr., Plano, Texas |
Number of locations | 18,703 restaurants worldwide (2020) |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Aaron Powell (President Pizza Hut International) |
| Products | Pizza Fries Italian taco Pan pizza Pasta Chicken wings Breadsticks |
| Services | Franchising |
| Revenue |  US$1.091 billion (2016) |
Number of employees | About 350,000 |
| Parent | Yum! Brands |
| Website | pizzahut |
While studying at Wichita State University, the Carneys opened their first location, which quickly expanded to six outlets within a year. The brand began franchising in 1959, and its distinctive building style was designed by Chicago architect George Lindstrom in 1963. Pizza Hut experienced significant growth, including the acquisition by PepsiCo in 1977, followed by a spin-off into Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc., later renamed Yum! Brands in 2002, who are the current owners.
Pizza Hut introduced PizzaNet in 1994, an early internet ordering experiment, and continued innovation with offerings like stuffed crust pizza introduced in 1995. Pizza Hut has adapted its model to include various restaurant formats, including the family-style dine-in locations, carry-out, and hybrid locations. It has ventured into international markets, tailoring its menu to local tastes. The brand faced challenges, including the closure of numerous dine-in locations in the US and adjustments to its franchise operations. Despite these hurdles, Pizza Hut remains a significant player in the global fast food industry, known for its innovative products and marketing strategies.