Pizza Hut Delivery to create 3,000 jobs in UK by 2020
Pizza Hut Delivery is to invest £40m in opening 200 new take away stores in the UK and Ireland over the next four years, resulting in the creation of at least 3,000 jobs.
The majority of the new openings will be via the extension of its existing network of more than 80 franchise partnerships as well as through agreements with new partners. The latest expansion of the business follows Pizza Hut's announcement four years ago to create 100 new outlets by 2014, through the development of a new £20m franchise incentive scheme.
Around 25% of the new stores will be in the guise of Pizza Hut Express, a quick serve unit that offers smaller servings of pizza to eat in or take away. The brand's latest store recently opened in Westfield Stratford City.
Raphael Miolane, chief executive of Pizza Hut UK & Ireland, said: "We've built a firm foundation for the business since we opened our first delivery store over 15 years ago.
"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 currently has more than 700 outlets in the UK and Ireland, including 270 restaurants. The master franchise restaurant part of the business, acquired by private equity company Rutland Partners from Yum Brands in 2012, is currently up for sale with a price tag of around £150m. Meanwhile, the delivery element remains part of Yum Brands, the world's largest restaurant company comprising KFC and Taco Bell.
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