How Pizza Hut Became One Of The Largest Pizza Chains In The World

The red hat and the words “Pizza Hut” are recognizable by millions around the world and its pizza makes just as many mouths drool. Like many successful restaurant establishments, Pizza Hut started as a small, modest, and family-oriented joint.  It did not take long for the famous pizza to become a household name and sell half a billion dollars of revenue each year.

Even more, Pizza Hut has hit some successful milestones including getting its pizza out to Space, the White House, and Mount Kilimanjaro. What’s even more impressive, the chain has opened 18,000 restaurants in over 100 countries across the world – the first pizza joint to do so. Pizza Hut has secured jobs for 350,000 employees across their 100 restaurants worldwide and they continue to implement programs to help communities since the 1980s. They have donated to countless charities worldwide with their “Harvest” program to fight world hunger. With all this success and opportunity you’d be surprised at the company’s humble beginnings. So, where exactly did it all start?

The Beginning

1958 marked the first year a Pizza Hut restaurant opened located in Wichita, Kansas. The joint was opened by two brothers, who borrowed $600 from their mother to invest in the restaurant chain that would quickly grow into a multimillion-dollar franchise. The classic red hat which symbolized a roof was soon introduced as the official logo in 1969.  The pizza chain began to expand and today has grown massively with a total of 18,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and accounts for a total of 350,000 employees making it one of the largest food chains in the world.

1989: The Year It Took Off

What started as a small town pizza joint in the late 1950s grew quickly and climaxed in the 1980s. During these years, Pizza Hut hit many milestones including the introduction of the first pan pizza which created a thicker, fluffier crust. The year 1986 marked Pizza Hut’s 5000th restaurant opening, which was a huge accomplishment for the time. In 1984, Pizza Hut introduced its first community initiative by launching a reading incentive group for kids called “Book It”. The “Book It” program provided a free course and camp for pre-k – 6th-grade children who needed extra help and encouragement to reach their appropriate reading level. The camp was a hit and still runs today providing a fun atmosphere for kids to learn and enjoy reading.

The most exciting year for Pizza Hut was 1989 when they delivered pizza to the White House. Then First Lady, Barbara Bush, ordered Pizza Hut pizzas for 200 D.C children during a reception called “Reading is Fundamental”. The pizza party was a hit and Pizza Hut got to earn the prestigious title of first pizza delivery to the White House.

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Pizza In Space? Mount Kilimanjaro?

Sure, delivering pizza to the White House in the 80s was a fun accomplishment but what about space? That’s right, Pizza Hut managed to do the impossible and delivered a pizza to the international space station in 2001. How did they manage this? Well, Pizza Hut struck a deal with the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, which helped deliver the pizzas on a resupply rocket. BBC reported on the event and stated that the publicity stunt cost the company roughly $1 million to complete. Since taste buds can be duller in space, the pizza makers amped up the spice and salt levels and added extra toppings so the lucky astronauts could have a taste of home with them.

Almost as impressive as sending pizza to space, Pizza Hut also made another remarkable delivery all the way up Mount Kilimanjaro. To mark the celebration of its 100 restaurant opening in 2016, Pizza Hut decided to make a daring delivery up the world’s 6th tallest mountain. A group of employees made the trek up the 19,341 ft mountain and shared a pepperoni pizza at the top. It was the highest altitude pizza delivery on land and earned them a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.

How Pizza Hut Has Changed Today

It’s been a wild ride for the food chain but one of its secrets to staying relevant over the years is its willingness to change. Pizza Hut has adapted to the times and understands the importance of giving back to the world. In 2017, Pizza Hut marked the 25th anniversary of its “Harvest” program which had donated 100 million pounds of food to impoverished countries. Pizza Hut states on its website, “we all have a hand to play in the food waste epidemic, and it’s no different for global businesses”. 30 – 40% of food is wasted each year while many millions go starving and this is an issue Pizza Hut refused to ignore. A part of this program includes donating mistake pizzas, no-show pizzas, and leftover buffet items to local charities across their 18,000 restaurants.

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Sources: The Daily Meal, Pizza Hut Blog, Business Insider, Guinness Book of World Records 

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