First Look: Pizza Hut debuts high-tech restaurant with first U.S. drive-thru menu
Pizza Hut has brought its “most innovative” design concept to the United States.
The pizza giant unveiled the new format, which offers an elevated, modern and more connected experience enabled by digital and technology innovations, in Plano, Texas. The new restaurant boasts self-service kiosks for faster order placement, cabinets for easy, contactless pick-up and a customer-facing pizza-making station.
In addition, the location features Pizza Hut’s first-ever drive-thru menu in the U.S. The "Hut 'N Go” digital menu offers a select list of "ready-now" items that can be ordered and picked up at the window.
"This location goes beyond a restaurant redesign; it embodies Pizza Hut's creativity and vision for the brand's future," said Kalen Thornton, global chief brand officer, Pizza Hut. "This opening showcases our ability to innovate and evolve, which has served our 65-year leadership in pizza culture."
Pizza Hut said the new restaurant was built with sustainability top of mind. It includes energy-efficient lighting, auto lift fryers and energy-efficient ovens with in-vent hoods and an energy management system.
-
Image courtesy of Pizza Hut. -
Image courtesy of Pizza Hut. -
Image courtesy of Pizza Hut.
“At Pizza Hut we are laser focused on amplifying the experience for everyone who engages with our brand, and we understand that guest experience — particularly one that combines delight with digital convenience — can be a key differentiator," said Shannon Garcia, president, global franchise markets and global operations, Pizza Hut. "For example, the digital and tech-driven features of this restaurant design in particular — from order kiosks to self-access pick-up cabinets to the digital drive-thru menu — help guests easily guide their own journey with Pizza Hut and allow our restaurant team members to better serve them."
While the restaurant concept is a first in the U.S., it is already operational in more than 80 markets around the globe. Research shows that the new design offers an enhanced guest experience while also driving more transactions and in-restaurant traffic compared to previous formats, the company said.
"Featured in nearly 2,000 Pizza Huts worldwide, we've seen how this restaurant design brings the brand to life with a distinctive, modern exterior, an effortless blend of physical and digital touchpoints and increased human interaction around the joy of pizza," said Joseph Call, global chief development officer, Pizza Hut. "In addition, the open kitchen approach lets our guests see the magic of our team members in motion as they craft each pizza."
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, has with more than 19,500 restaurants in 110 markets and territories.
