Yum! Brands, Inc. has announced a ‘formal review of strategic options for the Pizza Hut brand’.
Chris Turner, CEO of Yum! Brands said the Pizza Hut team has been working hard to address business and category challenges; however, Pizza Hut’s performance indicates the need to take additional action to help the brand realise its full value, which “may be better executed outside of Yum! Brands,” Turner said.
Yum! generates about 11% of its operating profits from its Pizza Hut business. It operates roughly 20,000 Pizza Hut stores globally, about 6,500 of which are located in the US.
Competitors in the pizza market, like Papa Johns and Domino’s Pizza, also continue to grab market share, contributing to Pizza Hut’s struggles to stay competitive. Domino’s last month reported that its quarterly sales rose 6%, which executives attributed in part to promotions.
Yum! Brands said it has not set a deadline or definitive timetable for the completion of the strategic options review, and there can be no assurance this review will result in any specific outcome or transaction.
The company does not intend to comment or make further announcements unless it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.
Despite the demands of running a rapidly expanding company, Choudhary has learned to find balance, something he didn’t always have. These days, he’s an early riser, front-loading his weekdays with office work before spending afternoons on-site visits and store builds.
Evenings are reserved for football and gym sessions, and weekends are kept for family. “Sunday lunch at my mum’s house—that’s the recharge,” he says with a smile.
Among his proudest milestones is winning an international franchise of the year award earlier in his career, besting competitors across 30 markets, but he’s just as proud of The Sushi Co’s present trajectory. He said: “It’s been incredible to watch it grow. And we’re only getting started.”
When asked what advice he’d give his younger self, Choudhary was quick to reply: “Learn to walk before you run. There are no shortcuts. Move with care, build the right team, and think everything through.”
For prospective franchisees eyeing entry into the booming sushi space, The Sushi Co is currently welcoming applications.
Choudhary says: “We’re looking for experienced QSR and business professionals ready to invest in a proven, fast-growing concept. This is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the casual dining market, and we’re here to lead it.”
As The Sushi Co expands across the UK, Choudhary is showing that scale doesn’t have to mean compromise. With handcrafted sushi at its core and a franchise model built on training, quality, and support, he’s not just growing a brand, he’s setting a new standard for what fast-casual dining can deliver.
