EG Group partners with Pizza Hut on eight trial sites

EG Group has announced a new franchising partnership with Pizza Hut and aims to open eight new Pizza Hut trial stores on its forecourts by the end of the year.

The new partnership will add another foodservice operation to EG Group’s stable of global foodservice brands. Last year it bought the largest KFC franchisee in the UK & Ireland from The Herbert Group, based in Belfast, which included 146 KFC restaurants and one Pizza Hut store. The Pizza Hut and KFC brands are operated by American fast-food corporation Yum! Brands.

Last year EG Group also announced a trial of ’Slices by NKD Pizza’, but this was discontinued.

EG Group’s new deal will help Pizza Hut grow its footprint in the ‘on-the-go’ travel market. The partnership aims to bring investment to local communities, creating approximately 90 jobs and growth opportunities for new and existing team members.

The first EG Group-operated store is due to open in the Hartlepool area in the coming weeks.

As a franchisee, EG Group will keep Pizza Hut’s signature branding and familiar menu while providing a new option for customers to order on the go. This will allow Pizza Hut Delivery to further adapt its offerings in line with customer demand and the wider industry trend towards convenience.

This is Pizza Hut’s latest partnership to further grow the brand across the UK and Europe. One year ago, Pizza Hut announced plans to open 125 new locations over a three-year period – creating around 2,000 additional jobs.

The new partnership means Pizza Hut products will now be readily available for customers on-the-go and by the slice. EG Group sites will offer five classic flavours including Margherita, Pepperoni, Supreme, Meat Feast, and Veggie Supreme, as well as newer addition the Beyond Meat Supreme pizza. They will also cater for varied dietary requirements, including the Beyond Meat Supreme and vegetarian options.

Mohammed Tayab, Food & Beverage director - Europe at EG Group, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Pizza Hut to bring yet another global food service brand to our customers in convenient locations across the UK. We are excited to build on our existing relationship with Yum!, as we already work with KFC and operate a large number of restaurants across the EG Group estate. We look forward to trialling the pizza by the slice proposition and making it a resounding success.”

Neil Manhas, general manager at Pizza Hut Delivery in the UK, said: “We are extremely excited to partner with EG Group to create further opportunities for our communities and continue investing in the brand our fans know and love. EG Group has a wealth of experience in forecourt retail, in operating food service and their expertise as a global leader in this specific type of retail makes them the ideal partner to lead us into this new market.

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to adapting to customer demand by expanding our offerings. This wouldn’t be possible without the incredible work of each of our franchisees and team members, who have helped us continue to grow following the pandemic. I appreciate their dedication to the Pizza Hut brand”.

Pizza Hut has operated as a franchisor in the UK since 1973 and now operates 600 Huts across the UK. During the height of lockdown in 2020, Pizza Hut Delivery UK said it delivered more than 565,000 additional meals (March – early July) than in the same period in 2019. The strategy has paid off in the long-term, with Pizza Hut Delivery enjoying double digit year-on-year sales growth in the second half of 2020, with sales continuing to grow throughout 2021.