Pizza Hut to close hundreds of ‘underperforming’ locations this year

Pizza Hut is planning to close around 250 “underperforming” locations in the coming months, the chain’s parent company announced on Wednesday.

Yum Brands, which also owns Taco Bell and KFC, did not say which stores were being targeted or when the process would begin, but confirmed the closures would happen in the first half of 2026.

The shuttered restaurants would account for roughly 4% of Pizza Hut’s U.S. locations.

According to its latest earnings report, Pizza Hut has 19,974 locations worldwide — nearly 2,000 fewer than Domino’s, the world’s largest pizza chain. About 6,360 locations are in the U.S.

Yum! is reportedly still in the midst of a “formal review of strategic options,” including a possible sale of Pizza Hut, following a lag in domestic sales despite growing popularity due to nostalgia.

“As of now, we intend to complete the review of options this year,” CEO Chris Turner said on Wednesday’s earnings call. “Given the ongoing nature of the process, at this time, we cannot share further details.”

A number of other restaurants have recently announced closures across the U.S.

Caribbean-themed eatery Bahama Breeze announced earlier this week that it would be closing all of its restaurants in April. Several of those locations will likely be converted into other concepts owned by parent company Darden Restaurants.

Wendy’s, Denny’s, Jack in the Box, Red Robin and Starbucks have closed hundreds of stores as well.