Pizza Hut got started on this day in 1958.
It was founded by two brothers in Kansas.
They were still in college.
Their first location?
A 500-square-foot brick building.
Here are a few more Pizza Hut tidbits… 🧵
It was founded by two brothers in Kansas.
They were still in college.
Their first location?
A 500-square-foot brick building.
Here are a few more Pizza Hut tidbits… 🧵
Let’s start with the name, which was selected somewhat randomly.
Their sign had space for 8 letters.
They knew they wanted “Pizza.”
That left 3 letters to form a word.
Their sign had space for 8 letters.
They knew they wanted “Pizza.”
That left 3 letters to form a word.
You sometimes hear about famous businesses that got started on napkins.
In Pizza Hut’s case, a napkin is where you’ll find the original sauce recipe.
In Pizza Hut’s case, a napkin is where you’ll find the original sauce recipe.
Just as Facebook leveraged colleges…
…Pizza Hut’s founders leaned into the idea of launching in college towns.
Most of the early franchisees were fellow students at Witchita State.
Within 5 years, they had 40+ locations.
…Pizza Hut’s founders leaned into the idea of launching in college towns.
Most of the early franchisees were fellow students at Witchita State.
Within 5 years, they had 40+ locations.
For a fairly long time, Pizza Hut had a mascot named Pizza Pete.
They even had a perfume.
An even bigger stunt?
Delivering a pizza to Space.
They paid $1 million to do that.
Delivering a pizza to Space.
They paid $1 million to do that.
They sold the first pizza on the Internet.
Interestingly, after the Carney brothers sold Pizza Hut to PepsiCo…
…Frank Carney eventually competed with the company he co-founded.
He became one of Papa John’s largest franchisees.
…Frank Carney eventually competed with the company he co-founded.
He became one of Papa John’s largest franchisees.
Pizza Hut has gotten so big there are more than 19,000 locations worldwide.
And recently, it broke the record for the world’s largest pizza.
It required more than 8,800 pounds of cheese.
Which is a lot.
But a drop in the bucket for Pizza Hut, which as of a couple decades ago…
…was already using more than 300 pounds of cheese a year.
It required more than 8,800 pounds of cheese.
Which is a lot.
But a drop in the bucket for Pizza Hut, which as of a couple decades ago…
…was already using more than 300 pounds of cheese a year.
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