JACKSONVILLE, Fla., /PRNewswire/ -- The future of Pizza Hut was unveiled today in Jacksonville, as leaders from the company and local government officials joined together in celebrating the transformation to a more contemporary look and improved customer experience. Part of a $5 million investment in the community, the Jacksonville-area restaurants are the first in the nation to receive the brand new look that reflects the expanding menu of the world's largest pizza restaurant company.
"With the introduction of Tuscani Pastas last year and the expansion of our WingStreet(R) wing concept at hundreds of Pizza Hut locations, there's a lot more than just pizza at Pizza Hut," said Pat Murtha, chief operating officer of Pizza Hut. "While as a company we'll always be known as Pizza Hut, the contemporary new look of our restaurant reflects our expanding menu, while keeping our overall restaurant feel fresh and contemporary."
Murtha hosted local government and business leaders at a celebration at a newly redesigned dine-in restaurant on 6140 Merrill Road to show the renovations and give the leaders a taste of the new menu items.
"In these challenging times, we are excited and appreciative that Pizza Hut has chosen Jacksonville to invest over $5 million in the revitalizations of its local restaurants," said Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton. "Capital investments help ensure the future viability of small businesses and large companies during any economic downturn and I am pleased that Pizza Hut's commitment will benefit all of its patrons in the local area."
Pizza Hut is renovating all of the restaurants in the Jacksonville market, including seven dine-in restaurants and 23 delivery and carryout-only restaurants. Renovations began in Jacksonville in March and are scheduled to be complete by September. Changes that area-pizza fans will notice will include:
- Bold, energetic graphics
- Redesigned dine-in and delivery and carryout restaurants
- A new menu that is more than just pizza - now customers can enjoy baked pasta favorites with Tuscani Pastas and made to order WingStreet wings that are hand tossed in a signature WingStreet sauce
Murtha also brought a piece of the beach to Merrill Road so local officials could experience the fun activities that Pizza Hut is bringing to residents at Jacksonville Beach this summer. Pizza Hut is sponsoring free summer-long activities at Jacksonville Beach, as well as bringing a Pizza Hut "restaurant" to the beach so beach-goers can enjoy Pizza Hut favorites.
Jacksonville is the model market for the re-design of Pizza Hut restaurants. Pizza Hut plans to introduce the new look that debuted in Jacksonville to additional markets in the future.
"Jacksonville is a great market for us," Murtha said. "We are proud to be a part of the community and we thank our customers who have been Pizza Hut loyalists for decades. These upgrades in the market reflect our desire to stay relevant so that families can enjoy our pizzas, pastas and wings for years to come."
About Pizza Hut:
Pizza Hut, an American icon, delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant. A shining example of success in American entrepreneurism, the company began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas and today operates more than 10,000 restaurants in hundreds of countries. Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) .
SOURCE Pizza Hut
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