Arabic version: يوم! براندز تبيع بيتزا هت مقابل 2.7 مليار دولار

Yum! Brands is selling its struggling Pizza Hut chain in a deal worth $2.7 billion (£2 billion). Private equity firm LongRange Capital will acquire the brand outside of mainland China for $1.5 billion, while Yum China Holdings will buy the mainland China operations for $1.2 billion. According to BBC News, Yum! Brands chief executive Chris Turner expressed confidence that under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth due to the expertise in the restaurant industry.

The decision comes after a prolonged period of difficulty for Pizza Hut, which has faced declining same-store sales in the U.S. market. The American market is vital for the chain, accounting for 40% of its total international sales. The decline has been driven by fierce competition from chains like Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Little Caesars, which have aggressively discounted their offerings to attract price-sensitive customers.

Additionally, smaller regional chains have gained market share by adapting more swiftly to changing consumer preferences. The rise of third-party delivery apps has also introduced numerous alternatives, further eroding Pizza Hut’s historic market dominance.

Founded in 1958 by two brothers in Wichita, Kansas, Pizza Hut was acquired by PepsiCo in 1977 and later spun off into Yum! Brands in 1997. Turner acknowledged Pizza Hut’s iconic status and its significant role in Yum!’s history. With this divestment, Yum! Brands aims to focus its resources on its core brands, including KFC and Taco Bell. The transactions with LongRange Capital and Yum China are both expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals.