Pizza Hut Plans Aggressive Uk Expansion

(Monday, August 24, 2009) - Pizza Hut plans to open 30 to 50 new units a year in the U.K. beginning in 2010, according to a story in the Financial Times. The company is seeking to take advantage of the recession-related boom in people eating at home.

From the Financial Times:

Delivery has been a very successful part of our business over the past 12 months or so," said Jens Hofma, head of Pizza Hut UK.

"Clearly, the economic situation has caused customers to dine in more often and resort to pizza delivery.

"So this is definitely a sector which is in strong growth."

At the moment, Pizza Hut operates 300 delivery outlets as well as about 400 restaurants in the UK.

Mr Hofma declined to be drawn on specific long-term store goals.

However, he said it would not be "unreasonable" for the group to try and match the 553 units that rival Domino's Pizza currently owns.

"I think it should be fairly realistic for us to get there in a few years' time," he said.