BigHospitality’s sister site Food Spark reports that there are now 20 fast casual sites open following a £1m investment.
The Yum! Brands-operated group, which has a separate owner to the core Pizza Hut UK restaurants, opened its first site under the new format in Luton last May with an eat-in seating area and open kitchen.
Managing director Neil Manhas says £1m has been allocated for further conversions this year, with plans to expand in to London with new locations.
“[Luton] is doing about 50% higher volume than a traditional delivery stores,” he says.
“In those [fast casual] stores, we offer an express lunch, so you can get your pizza in five minutes guaranteed.
“The ambition is that the entire estate moves to that new model once we are entirely convinced that we have locked in the formula – and the formula I think is going to look different depending on the dynamics of specific trade zones, and that’s the bit that we’re just building the muscle on.”
Yum! Brands is also behind KFC and Taco Bell.
The separate Pizza Hut UK restaurant business confirmed this year it is exploring delivery with Deliveroo in areas not serviced by Yum! Brands.
A version of this article was originally published in Food Spark. a digital subscription service designed covering innovation across the food industry. To request a demo contact joinus@foodspark.com or call 01293 610371.