Pizza Hut to Shut 250 US Stores as Yum Reviews Sale Plan

Pizza Hut is planning to close 250 restaurants in the United States in the first half of 2026, as its parent company Yum Brands reviews future options for the pizza chain, including a possible sale.

Yum Brands said on Wednesday that these closures will mainly target underperforming Pizza Hut locations. Pizza Hut currently has more than 6,000 restaurants in the US.

The company first announced in November that it had started a formal review of strategic options for Pizza Hut. The chain has been struggling in the US due to outdated stores and increasing competition in the pizza market.

According to Yum Brands, Pizza Hut’s US same-store sales (sales at restaurants open for at least one year) fell by 5% in 2025.

In comparison, rival Domino’s, the world’s largest pizza company, reported 2.7% growth in US same-store sales during the first nine months of last year.

However, Pizza Hut’s performance has been stronger outside the United States. Yum Brands said Pizza Hut’s international same-store sales increased by 1% in 2025, supported by growth in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

China remains Pizza Hut’s second-largest market outside the US, contributing 19% of the company’s sales.

Yum Brands CEO Chris Turner said the company plans to complete its review of Pizza Hut’s future options within 2026, but he did not provide further details.

Pizza Hut ended 2025 with 19,974 stores globally, which was 251 fewer than the previous year. The brand opened nearly 1,200 new stores across 65 countries, but closures still outpaced openings.

Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas. It was acquired by PepsiCo in 1977, and later became part of Yum Brands when PepsiCo spun off its restaurant division in 1997. Yum Brands also owns KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill.