Pizza Hut to open first new site in over five years
Pizza Hut Restaurants is set to open its first new restaurant in over five years.
The business will open a new site in the second half of 2017 in the White Rose development in Leeds, alongside a new 11-screen Cineworld cinema.
The restaurant will receive an investment of over £1m and will feature a cocktail bar and other "new menu innovations".
The opening comes after a long-running refurbishment and modernisation programme of Pizza Hut's 272 restaurants, which is now over half way to completion.
The refurbishments began in 2012 when Rutland Partners acquired the business, and have been funded as part of a broader £60m investment.
The company said it had already seen the benefits of the programme, with 6.2% growth in like-for-like sales for the period from 1 December 2014 to 29 November 2015.
It has also invested in training, and has recently announced a new apprenticeship programme, which will see 1,500 apprenticeships created in the next five years, including a degree-level apprenticeship, which it claims is a first for the industry.
Development director Mike Spencer said: "We are delighted to announce the signing of a new restaurant at the White Rose development. Since 2012 our focus has been on delivering the refurbishment programme for our existing portfolio and this marks a significant step in our growth strategy.
"We are now half way through refurbishing our entire estate, which has seen us create a new look and feel for every Hut. Already our strategy is paying off; the refurbished estate is playing a significant role in the success of our business, with Huts achieving up to 40% increase in sales growth and our recent results are testament to that."
Pizza Hut is thought to be for sale by Rutland Partners, with a rumoured price tage of £150m. It bought the business from Yum! Brands in 2012.
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Refurbishments drive 6.2% increase in like-for-like sales at Pizza Hut >>
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