Yum! Brands has announced plans to sell Pizza Hut’s remaining UK operations as part of a broader strategy to streamline its business and focus on its core restaurant brands.
The move comes less than two years after the company stepped in to rescue parts of the Pizza Hut UK business following the collapse of its dine-in restaurant operator.
Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas, and grew into one of the world’s most recognisable restaurant brands.
PepsiCo acquired the company in 1977 before spinning it off in 1997 into what later became Yum! Brands.
“Pizza Hut is one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world, and we are proud of the important role it has played in Yum!’s history,” said Yum! Brands Chief Executive Officer David Gibbs Turner.
Yum! Brands acquired Pizza Hut’s UK operations in October 2025 after DC London Pie, the company operating the chain’s dine-in restaurants, entered administration.
The collapse initially resulted in the closure of 68 restaurants and placed more than 1,200 jobs at risk.
However, a rescue agreement helped preserve about 64 restaurants and safeguarded hundreds of positions.
The company said the sale of the remaining UK business forms part of efforts to sharpen its strategic focus and allocate resources more efficiently.
Yum! Brands owns several major global restaurant chains, including KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
By divesting the struggling UK division, the company aims to concentrate on strengthening its broader international operations and growth strategy.
The transactions involving LongRange Capital and Yum China are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
The sale marks another significant chapter in Pizza Hut’s evolution as the brand continues to adapt to changing consumer habits and increasing competition in the global restaurant industry.
