Pizza Hut goes retro

Pizza Hut is leaning on nostalgia to help with struggling sales. Daland Corporation, which operates almost 100 locations in the US, is redecorating over 80 modern restaurants into “Pizza Hut Classic” sites.

These Pizza Huts are getting an 80s and 90s makeover, complete with red-checkered tablecloths, vinyl booths, stained glass lamps, a salad bar, and even Pac-Man.

Additionally, the franchise is resurrecting its “BOOK IT!” Summer of Stories program to reward young readers with free Personal Pan pizzas.

The moves come as Pizza Hut sees lagging sales in the US. The brands also closed around 250 underperforming locations in February of this year.

Its shares fell from 22.6% in 2019 to 18.7% in 2024. 

Pizza Hut owner Yum Brands announced last year that it is exploring options, including a possible sale, joint venture, or divestiture of the pizzeria.

The chain’s embracing of nostalgia-driven marketing could boost purchase intent by as much as 50%, say strategy experts.