Pizza Hut is set to close about 250 locations nationwide in the coming months. The restaurant‘s parent company, Yum! Brands, announced the plan during a recent earnings call, 10 WBNS reported.
Why is Pizza Hut closing 250 locations?
Pizza Hut’s closures are part of the company’s “Hut Forward” strategy, a plan that involves a massive decline of Pizza Hut stores and a possible decrease in profits. The bigger picture, however, involves the company’s “strategic review”—which includes the possibility of the chain being sold to a different company.
“Pizza Hut’s performance indicates the need to take additional action to help the brand realize its full value, which may be better executed outside of Yum! Brands,” Pizza Hut CEO Chris Turner said in a statement, according to 10 WBNS. “To truly take advantage of the brand we’ve built and the opportunities ahead, we’ve made the decision to initiate a thorough review of strategic options.”
Recently, Yum! Brands, which owns about 20,000 Pizza Hut locations across the world, reported a decline in sales at the restaurant. The company didn’t reveal which locations, but officials say some of the stores are underperforming.
What are some of the restaurants owned by Yum! Brands?
In addition to Pizza Hut, Yum! Brands also owns Taco Bell and KFC. While Pizza Hut has struggled to keep up with rivals like Domino’s, Taco Bell has enjoyed a sales increase by 7% in recent months, CNN reported. Taco Bell’s new menu is helping the restaurant attract people of all ages. KFC is also seeing a slight increase in sales in recent months, according to CNN.
Yum! saw its shares increase by 6% in the first month of 2026. The company now weighs the future of Pizza Hut, which has become a globally recognized brand after it was founded by two brothers in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958. The brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to start the business, according to 10 WBNS.