Overview
- Yum disclosed the plan on its Q4 earnings call, concentrating the closures in the first half of 2026 with the review expected to conclude later this year.
- The effort targets underperforming restaurants and ties to Hut Forward, which includes marketing investments, technology upgrades and revised franchise agreements.
- The roughly 250 closures equal about 3% of Pizza Hut’s U.S. footprint, and the company has not released a list of affected locations.
- Executives pointed to U.S. same‑store sales declines at Pizza Hut, contrasted with stronger performance at Taco Bell and KFC within Yum’s portfolio.
- Despite the U.S. pullback, Pizza Hut continues to expand internationally, adding about 440 gross units in Q4 and nearly 1,200 in 2025 across 65 countries.