Pizza Hut to spend £40m on 200 new outlets

Pizza takeaway chain Pizza Hut Delivery announced plans this week to create 3,000 jobs in 200 new stores across the British isles over the next four years.

The 419-store company - owned by S&P 500 component and proprietor of the Pizza Hut brand Yum! Brands - is separate from Pizza Hut Restaurants, a 270-store chain owned by private equity firm Rutland Partners.

Up to 25% of the new openings would be under its tiny-footprint, quick service ‘Pizza Hut Express’ format.

“Our Pizza Hut Express portfolio will play an important role in this strategy, with at least 50 taking this format,” said chief executive Raphael Miolane.

“We wouldn't be where we are today without our franchisees and we are looking forward to growing our existing relationships, whilst also developing new partnerships to achieve our ambitions.”

Pizza Hut Delivery embarked on a similar scheme in 2012, spending £20m on its UK estate and opening 100 outlets in Britain in two years.

Rutland Partners, which bought Pizza Hut Restaurants from Yum! Brands in 2012, was currently looking to exit the investment and was understood to be in talks with a number of potential bidders.