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1h ago

Pizza Hut to Close 250 U.S. Stores in First Half of 2026 Under 'Hut Forward' Plan

Yum Brands is conducting a formal review of Pizza Hut’s future, with outcomes expected later this year.

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A personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. The chain is closing hundreds of US locations this year.
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Overview

  • The company said 250 underperforming restaurants will shut in the first half of 2026, roughly 3% of Pizza Hut’s U.S. footprint, and it has not released a list of locations.
  • CFO Ranjith Roy described the move as part of a restructuring effort called Hut Forward.
  • Yum Brands’ strategic review of Pizza Hut, which includes exploring a sale, is ongoing with a decision targeted in 2026, according to CEO Chris Turner.
  • Pizza Hut’s U.S. same-store sales fell 3% in the latest quarter, reflecting continued pressure in a market led by Domino’s.
  • The brand’s global position weakened in 2025, with system sales down and 251 fewer locations year over year after mass closures by a European franchisee.