Pizza Hut hits milestone with 3,000th store in China under Yum China

Pizza Hut, under Yum China Holdings, has marked a major milestone in its expansion by opening its 3,000th store in Qinhuangdao, a coastal city in China’s Hebei province.

In its 33-year journey in China since launching its first restaurant in Beijing in 1990, Pizza Hut has established itself as the country’s largest casual dining brand, both in system sales and the number of outlets. This comes as the latest store, which enjoys an expansive sea view, brings together a modern dining experience and sustainable features like an IoT-based energy management system and outdoor solar lamps.

It also uses renewable and recycled materials for decoration, demonstrating its commitment to low-carbon living.

Joey Wat — Yum China CEO said: “The opening of Pizza Hut 3,000th store is more than a landmark moment for store expansion. It demonstrates Pizza Hut’s strength as a “pizza expert” and reaffirms our commitment to growing the brand in China. This milestone also underscores our focus on continuous innovation, from menu innovation and digitalization, to a range of new store formats.

“We believe the brand holds tremendous growth potential in China, and we are committed to actively pursuing expansion opportunities to further grow the brand.”

Pizza Hut opens 3,000th store in China under Yum China. Photo courtesy of Yum China Holdings Inc./PRNewswire.

Offering a variety of dishes beyond pizzas such as steaks, pasta, rice dishes, and other entrees, Pizza Hut China has not only cemented its leadership in the pizza domain but also as one of the country’s top steakhouses. Its latest 2023 menu, launched in May, includes 24 new items across 9 categories, including Neapolitan-style meatball pizza and Cheese and pineapple roll.

The company’s growth strategy spans across dine-in, delivery, and takeaway services, along with packaged read-to-cook foods.

The brand has also significantly enhanced its digital capabilities in recent years, boasting a robust digital ecosystem, expanded membership base, and improved customer experience. By the end of March 2023, its membership had grown to over 135 million, nearly double the number at the end of 2019.

Digital orders accounted for around 91% of company sales in the first quarter of 2023, a drastic leap from 31% in 2019.

Pizza Hut China also harnesses its digital prowess in restaurant operations with the deployment of i-Kitchen, an AI and IoT-based operation management system, across all its stores. This technology enables effective inventory management, automates order sequencing and production processes, and conducts food safety and quality checks.

With a rich brand heritage of 33 years, Pizza Hut China continues to innovate and adapt to customer demands, with strong branding, quality food, and customer experience remaining as its core growth catalysts for the future.

Jeff Kuai — Pizza Hut China General Manager said: “Pizza Hut is extremely proud of its heritage as the first restaurant chain to introduce pizza and Western-style casual dining to China.

“From our first store in Beijing to now 3,000 stores nationwide, we have always grown together with our customers. We’ll continue to expand our store portfolio, while staying true to our commitment to innovating great food and experiences for our customers.”