Pizza Hut to Close 250 U.S. Locations in 2026

Yum Brands, the parent company of Pizza Hut, announced plans to close approximately 250 underperforming U.S. locations of the pizza chain in the first half of 2026, representing about 3 percent of its domestic footprint. The decision, revealed during the company's fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call on Wednesday, aims to streamline operations amid persistent sales challenges and shifting consumer preferences.

The closures target stores with declining traffic and higher operating costs, many of which are older dine-in restaurants that no longer align with the growing demand for quick pickup and delivery services. Pizza Hut operates around 6,300 locations in the United States and nearly 20,000 worldwide, but its domestic market generates almost half of total sales. For the full year 2025, the chain reported a 5 percent decline in same-store sales, with a 3 percent drop in the fourth quarter alone. Globally, system sales fell to $3.47 billion from $3.61 billion the previous year, and the total store count decreased by 251 locations, including international closures primarily in Turkey and Europe.

Yum Brands Chief Financial Officer Ranjith Roy described the move as essential to...