Updated Pizza Hut Design Lands in U.S.

Pizza Hut (Plano, Texas) has introduced a new restaurant design for the first time in the U.S. that “offers an elevated, modern, more connected experience enabled by digital and technology innovations while continuing to serve the craveable food that has made Pizza Hut a global icon,” the company said in a news release.

Courtesy of Pizza Hut

The restaurant, in the brand’s hometown of Plano, includes self-service kiosks for faster order placement, cabinets for contactless pick-up and a guest-facing pizza making station. In addition, the restaurant’s drive-thru features a menu that offers a select list of ready-now items for quick pick-up. The design also incorporates several sustainable features, including energy-efficient lighting, auto lift fryers and energy-efficient ovens with in-vent hoods.

“From its physical layout to its modern design and digital-forward capabilities, this new restaurant showcases Pizza Hut’s legacy of innovation and unique ability to meet changing guest needs in ways that are distinctive to our brand,” said CEO Aaron Powell.

Courtesy of Pizza Hut

While the restaurant concept in Plano is a first in the U.S., it is already operational in more than 2000 Pizza Huts in 80 markets around the globe, with research showing that the new design offers an enhanced guest experience while also driving more transactions and in-restaurant traffic compared to previous formats, the company said.

Pizza Hut did not detail its plans for rolling out the updated design in the U.S. The company is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc. and has more than 19,500 restaurants in 110 markets and territories.