Pizza Hut in the UK is set to shut down 68 of its restaurants and 11 delivery sites, resulting in the loss of 1,210 jobs. DC London Pie Limited, a franchisee of Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, has appointed FTI Consulting as administrators. Yum! Brands, the global owner of Pizza Hut, has agreed to rescue 64 locations and 1,277 jobs through a pre-pack administration.
A pre-pack administration involves finalizing the sale of a business or its assets before the administration process formally starts. Pizza Hut UK’s spokesperson announced the acquisition of Pizza Hut dine-in operations through a pre-packaged administration. The move will safeguard 64 sites, ensuring the continuity of guest experiences and preserving associated jobs. Approximately 1,277 team members, including leaders and support staff, will transition to the new Yum! equity business under UK TUPE legislation.
Nicolas Burquier, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, emphasized that the targeted acquisition aims to maintain guest experiences and protect jobs. The immediate focus is on ensuring operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues during the transition.
Directional Capital took control of 139 Pizza Hut restaurants in January 2025, rescuing 3,000 jobs following the collapse of previous operator Heart with Smart Limited. DC London Pie was established by Directional Capital to operate Pizza Hut restaurants in the UK. The first Pizza Hut in the UK opened in Islington, London, in 1973, and the chain once operated over 260 restaurants nationwide with 10,000 employees.
The closure of Pizza Hut restaurants adds to a series of struggling businesses announcing shutdowns in recent months. Poundland underwent significant restructuring, leading to the closure of dozens of stores after being sold to an investment firm for £1. Bodycare, a struggling beauty chain, closed all its stores after collapsing into administration, initially shutting 32 stores and later confirming the permanent closure of another 30 stores. The remaining 56 stores will also shut down.