Pizza Hut Restaurants has announced like for like sales growth of 6.2% for the period from 1st December 2014 to 29th November 2015, having achieved nine quarters of consecutive growth. The casual dining business has also outstripped the market in like for like sales growth in 45 out of 52 weeks (Coffer Peach Business Tracker).
The results are testament to a successful year for the business, which has remained focused on its refurbishment and restructuring programme, funded through a broader £60 million investment which began in 2012 when Rutland Partners acquired the business.
Success of refurbishment – huge remaining growth opportunity
Commenting on the results, CEO Pizza Hut Restaurants, Jens Hofma said:
“This year we have continued our focus on delivering our restructuring programme. Already our refurbished estate has played an instrumental role in our business success. We’ve seen a mix of new customers and increased spend per head at our restaurants, with each refurbished Hut experiencing significant sales uplift.
“The next year will be hugely important and I believe there has never been a more exciting time in the business. We are already in a good place but we have a huge remaining growth opportunity – particularly as we continue to unlock the potential of our people, new technologies, new audiences such as millennials and further innovations in the menu.”
Improved guest satisfaction and increasing spend
Throughout 2015, Pizza Hut Restaurants has refurbished 71 Huts, with half of the portfolio now complete. The business has invested in modernising the concept, whilst staying true to its roots; this includes offering a high quality décor, with a clear, American-inspired personality, along with new innovations in the menu.
Pizza Hut Restaurants recently launched its first ever apprenticeship programme, which offers a range of qualifications from level 1 through to degree level apprenticeships. The latter is in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University and underlines the business’s commitment to providing opportunities for employees.
Together these elements are helping encourage improved guest satisfaction and increasing spend per customer. Each refurbished Hut has experienced a sales uplift between 10 – 40% depending on the level of investment. Throughout the next year, Pizza Hut Restaurants will refurbish a further 70 Huts, providing further growth potential for the business.