It’s no secret that Pensacola loves its hot, new pizzerias—but the area could be losing an old-school staple, Pizza Hut announced with week that over 250 underperforming locations planned to close across the nation in the first half of 2026, Nation’s Restaurant News reported. The full list of closing locations has not yet been released.
While many trendy new pizza concepts have entered Pensacola’s dining scene in recent years, many pizza connoisseurs still hold nostalgia for the Pizza Hut brand, particularly the free Personal Pan Pizzas through their BOOK IT! Program.
The brand is now looking to the future, not the past, as it works to establish itself against competitors.
Chief Financial Officer Ranjith Roy said during the company’s earnings call Wednesday morning that the move was part of “Hut Forward,” which includes “vibrant marketing, modernization of technology, and franchise agreements.”
Roy did not name the locations of the soon-to-be-shuttered Huts. Yum! has nearly 20,000 Pizza Hut restaurants worldwide, including 13 active locations in Escambia and Santa Rosa County, according to Pizza Hut’s digital location tracker. The Pizza Hut website currently lists more than 450 locations in Florida, the third-most of any state behind Texas (918) and California (553), according to August 2024 numbers data site ScrapeHero.
The Louisville, Kentucky-based company announced in November that Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken, would begin “a formal review of strategic options for the Pizza Hut brand,” with a sale as a possibility.
“The Pizza Hut team has been working hard to address business and category challenges; however, Pizza Hut’s performance indicates the need to take additional action to help the brand realize its full value, which may be better executed outside of Yum! Brands,” said Yum! Brands CEO Chris Turner in a news release.
In the U.S., Pizza Hut has seen several quarters of same-store sales declines. The most recent fourth quarter declined 3%, NRN reported.
Pizza Hut is deemed a ‘beloved’ brand, but may be sold
Restaurants have faced overwhelming challenges in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic strained chains and locally-owned restaurants alike. Many had to raise prices just as customers tightened their pocketbooks. Several restaurant chains have filed for bankruptcy, while others, including Outback Steakhouse, have closed locations.
To assuage customer concerns, Pizza Hut had successful $2 Personal Pan Pizza promotions this past summer. The restaurant chain is also testing a new restaurant design, with self-service kiosks, a drive-thru with a Hut ‘N Go menu for quick orders and a visible pizza-making station so customers can watch pies being made.
“Pizza Hut is a beloved global brand and industry innovator that connects people through the joy of pizza, and we are confident in its long-term future,” Turner said. “Pizza Hut has many strengths – including deep consumer love, a global footprint, strong growth in many markets, a talented team, and an increasingly powerful technology platform.”
When was Pizza Hut founded?
Brothers Frank and Dan Carney opened their first small Pizza Hut in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, according to Wichita State University. They then expanded into franchising in Topeka, Kansas, eventually opening over 11,000 restaurants across 90 countries.
Are any Pizza Hut locations in Florida closing?
Yum! Brands has not yet released a list of the underperforming Pizza Hut locations.
Which Pizza Hut locations in Florida have closed?
Comparing the currently listed Florida locations to an archived list shows dozens of Pizza Hut locations have closed since 2024. It is unknown if any of these count toward the announced 250 closings. A partial, unverified list, includes:
Where are Pizza Huts in Escambia and Santa Rosa County?
Pizza Hut still has a big presence in Escambia and Santa Rosa County, with over a dozen locations spanning the area.
How can I find the Pizza Hut closest to me?
You can find local Pizza Hut locations at pizzahut.com/locator.
C. A. Bridges and Mike Snider of the USA TODAY Network contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pizza Hut restaurants are closing over 250 locations. Here’s why
Reporting by Brittany Misencik and Mike Snider, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
