In 1958, Frank and Dan Carney had an idea for a great local pizza restaurant in Wichita Kansas. The small 25 seat restaurant only had room for 9 letters on the sign… the building looked like a hut… so 'Pizza Hut' was born! Fifteen years later, we opened the first UK restaurant and since then we've become the biggest Pizza Company on the planet! 2008 We bought Godfather's Pizza in Ireland with 28 stores. We also launched our Pepperoni Stuffed Crust & Garlic Crust pizzas, larger 4 for ALL and a new range of Tuscani pastas in the UK. Chicken Alfredo 2007 We brought out our Thick n Thin Pizza and began to re-franchise our dine-in restaurants. 2006 Whitbread sold their share of the joint venture to Yum! Brands Inc. Pizza Hut UK Ltd was now 100% owned by Yum! Cheesy Bites was launched! There were now 697 restaurants in the UK, with 154 stores as a franchise owned by 61 franchisees. 2005 The 4forALL was launched. Over 600 restaurants were open in the UK, 70 of them as Franchise units. 2004 Pizza Hut launched The Big New Yorker. 2003 500 restaurants were now open throughout the UK, employing over 20,000 people. 2002 Tricon Global became YUM! Brands Inc. The Quad Pizza was launched in the UK, as Pizza Hut opens its 500th restaurant. A & W and Long John Silver's join the Yum brand. YUM! Brands inc Hut began a franchising programme with its delivery stores. 2000 Pizza Hut introduced The Edge, a thin pizza with toppings all the way round the edge. 1999 Pizza Hut had over 400 restaurants, employing 14000 people. The Italian Pizza was launched in the UK. The Edge 1998 Pan Pizza was relaunched as Grand Pan. 1997 PepsiCo decided to focus on their drinks business. As a result, Tricon Global Restaurants was born, creating the largest restaurant brand in the World. Tricon became the partner company with Whitbread. The Sicilian Pizza was launched in the UK, where there were 277 restaurants and 100 delivery stores. 1995 Stuffed Crust was launched in the UK. Stuffed Crust 199410,000 Pizza Huts were open for business. 1993 There were 300 restaurants and delivery stores in the UK. 1992 There were 9,000 restaurants in 84 countries. 1990Pizza Hut warmed the cold shores of Russia. In the UK there were now 200 restaurants. 1989The first restaurant was converted into a Restaurant Based Delivery store. Delivery Unit 1988The UK's first delivery unit was opened in Kingsbury, London. 1987An average of one restaurant opened each week in the UK. 1986By now, there were 100 restaurants in the UK and 5000 world wide. 1984Over 50 restaurants so far in the UK. 1982The UK joint venture started between PepsiCo and Whitbread. Pan Pizza 1980Pan Pizza was Introduced. 1977PepsiCo bought Pizza Hut. 1973Pizza Hut went international with restaurants in Japan, Canada & England. The first UK Pizza Hut opened in Islington, London. 19721000 restaurants are open throughout the USA. 1958Frank and Dan Carney open the first Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas.
