Flavor of Now: Pizza Hut Rolls Out Brand Evolution

Crust Flavors, Premium Ingredients, Sauces, Drizzles, Specialty Recipes all part of Menu Expansion at the World’s Largest Pizza Company

New logo, box, uniforms, digital experience round out redefinition of the pizza category by Pizza Hut

PLANO, TEXAS – Ten new crust flavors, five new premium ingredients, four new flavor-packed drizzles, new skinny slice pizzas and 11 new specialty recipes are available with six signature sauces as part of the menu revolution at Pizza Hut.  In addition, Pizza Hut has a revamped digital experience at pizzahut.com, a new logo, new box and relaxed uniforms.

“Pizza Hut has been defining what’s possible with pizza since 1958 and our newest changes are the most significant we’ve made in our history, as we once again look to take the entire category to another level,” said David Gibbs, chief executive officer, Pizza Hut.

“We are radically reinventing the pizza category with a menu transformation that more than doubles our amount of ingredients and flavors, a world-class digital ordering experience and an entirely new look and feel to our brand, all the way down to our uniforms.

“We couldn’t feel better about the direction we’re going and the long-term impact these changes will have on our business.”

Available nationwide Nov. 19, the new menu – dubbed the “Flavor of Now” – will feature all the Pizza Hut classics like Meat Lover’s®, Stuffed Crust, and Supreme that long-time fans love, but transform what consumers will come to expect from pizza with bolder flavors and nearly infinite possibilities (more than 2 billion) to customize.

The Flavor of Now menu includes 10 all-new crust flavors like Honey Sriracha, Salted Pretzel and Ginger Boom Boom, six signature sauces like Premium Crushed Tomato and Buffalo, new premium ingredients like Salami, Fresh Spinach and Peruvian Cherry Peppers and drizzles like Balsamic.

Those who prefer to leave the culinary imagination to Pizza Hut won’t be disappointed, as the new menu introduces 11 new “Explore Flavor” recipes, like the 7-Alarm Fire^TM (premium crushed tomato sauce, pepperoni, sliced banana peppers, Peruvian cherry peppers, sliced jalapeno peppers and fresh green peppers on a Hand-Tossed Crust with a fiery red pepper crust flavor) and the Old Fashioned Meatbrawl^TM (classic marinara sauce topped with classic meatballs, fresh red onions and diced Roma tomatoes flavored up with Hut Favorite crust flavor on Pan crust).

“We know that American tastes and preferences are evolving, and this new menu is designed to completely wow them,” said Pizza Hut Global Executive Chef Wiley Bates III.

“While some customers will be finding ways to bring flavors to the pizzas they’ve fallen in love with, others may be trying them for the first time. And, with so many options, there’s definitely something for everyone.”

Skinny Slice Pizza

Pizza Hut is also conducting a nationwide rollout of Skinny Slice Pizzas, made from a thinner version of Pizza Hut’s Hand-Tossed Crust. Five special recipes for Skinny Slice Pizzas have been hatched like the Skinny Club^TM (creamy garlic parmesan sauce, hardwood-smoked ham, diced Roma tomatoes and fresh spinach with a toasted Asiago crust flavor). All five special recipes feature 250 calories or less per slice.

“We are so excited to be offering such a wide range of flavorful and delicious pizzas that also happen to have fewer calories than our other pizzas,” said Pizza Hut Senior Nutritionist Rachel Huber, MPH, RD. “Nobody wants to feel like they’re sacrificing flavor when they’re counting calories, and with our new line of Skinny Slice Pizzas, they’ll never need to.”

A Whole New Pizza Hut

While the expanded menu will be the most noticeable change at Pizza Hut right away, it’s far from the only one. Online ordering will not only be available in both English and Spanish on mobile and Web, but it’ll also be more interactive and visual thanks to a revamped digital experience, making it easier to quickly choose from the expanded menu.

Pizza Hut will look different, too, as the iconic red roof logo has been contemporized, along with delivery boxes, cups and even employee uniforms.

All of these changes will be heralded in a national advertising campaign celebrating the “Flavor of Now.”

List of Menu Changes

• Ingredients: Sliced Banana Peppers, Peruvian Cherry Peppers, Fresh Spinach, Premium Salami, Classic Meatball
• Crust Flavors: Hut Favorite, Toasted Asiago, Honey Sriracha, Salted Pretzel, Toasted Parmesan, Fiery Red Pepper, Toasted Cheddar, Garlic Buttery Blend, Ginger Boom Boom, Get Curried Away
• Sauces: Classic Marinara, Premium Crushed Tomato, Garlic Parmesan, Buffalo, Barbeque, Honey Sriracha
• Drizzles: Balsamic, Honey Sriracha, Barbeque, Buffalo

Specialty Recipes:

• BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger (Barbeque sauce topped with classic meatballs, hardwood smoked bacon, fresh red onions and diced Roma tomatoes – flavored up with a toasted cheddar on the crust edge and a barbeque sauce drizzle.)
• Old-Fashioned Meatbrawl™ (Classic marinara sauce topped with classic meatballs, fresh red onions and diced Roma tomatoes – flavored up with our Hut Favorite on the crust edge.)
• 7-Alarm Fire™ (Premium crushed tomato sauce topped with pepperoni, sliced jalapeño peppers, Peruvian cherry peppers, sliced banana peppers and fresh green bell peppers, flavored up with fiery red pepper on the crust edge.)
• Sweet Sriracha Dynamite (Honey Sriracha sauce topped with grilled chicken, sliced jalapeño peppers, sweet pineapple and Peruvian cherry peppers – flavored up with honey Sriracha on the crust edge and a honey Sriracha sauce drizzle.)
• Cock-A-Doodle Bacon™ (Creamy garlic Parmesan sauce topped with grilled chicken, hardwood smoked bacon and diced Roma tomatoes – flavored up with toasted Parmesan on the crust edge.)
• Giddy-Up BBQ Chicken™ (Barbeque sauce topped with grilled chicken, hardwood smoked bacon and fresh red onions – flavored up with toasted cheddar on the crust edge and a barbeque sauce drizzle.)
• Buffalo State of Mind™ (Buffalo sauce topped with grilled chicken, sliced banana peppers and fresh red onions – flavored up with toasted cheddar on the crust edge and a Buffalo sauce drizzle.)
• Garden Party™ (Premium crushed tomato sauce topped with fresh green bell peppers, fresh red onions, fresh mushrooms, diced Roma tomatoes and fresh spinach – flavored up with our Hut Favorite on the crust edge and a balsamic sauce drizzle.)
• Pretzel Piggy™ (Creamy garlic Parmesan sauce topped with hardwood smoked bacon, fresh mushrooms and fresh spinach – flavored up with a salted pretzel crust edge and balsamic sauce drizzle.)
• Cherry Pepper Bombshell™ (Premium crushed tomato sauce topped with premium salami, Peruvian cherry peppers and fresh spinach – flavored up with toasted Asiago on the crust edge and a balsamic sauce drizzle.)
• Hot and Twisted™ (Premium crushed tomato sauce topped with premium salami, sliced jalapeño peppers and fresh red onions – flavored up with a salted pretzel crust edge.)

Skinny Slice Recipes:

• Skinny Beach™ (Premium crushed tomato sauce with grilled chicken, fresh red onions, Peruvian cherry peppers and fresh spinach.)
• Skinny with a Kick™ (Premium crusted tomato sauce topped with pepperoni, sliced jalapeno peppers, Peruvian cherry peppers, fresh green bell peppers and fresh red onions – flavored up with fiery red pepper on the crust edge.)
• Skinny Italy (Classic marinara sauce topped with classic meatballs, diced Roma tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, fresh red onions and fresh spinach – flavored up with a balsamic drizzle.)
• Skinny Luau™ (Premium crushed tomato sauce topped with grilled chicken, slow-roasted ham, fresh green bell peppers and sweet pineapple.)
• Skinny Club™ (Creamy garlic Parmesan sauce topped with grilled chicken, slow-roasted ham, diced Roma tomatoes and fresh spinach – flavored up with toasted Asiago on the crust edge.)