Following a million-pound investment, Pizza Hut Restaurants has today marked a major milestone through the opening of its first new restaurant in over six years, creating 50 jobs.
Set within the 65,000 sq ft leisure extension of the popular White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, the restaurant sits alongside the new 11-screen Cineworld IMAX cinema, due to open later this year. Featuring the casual dining chain’s latest American inspired designs, the Hut boasts a cocktail bar and new menu innovations such as sweet chilli chicken pizza, chicken wings, Kentucky style BBQ ribs, and American style waffles.
Over the past five years Pizza Hut Restaurants has undergone a significant refurbishment strategy, funded through a broader £60 million investment which began in 2012 when Rutland Partners acquired the business.
Speaking at the White Rose opening ceremony, COO Mike Spencer said:
“Leeds is a real powerhouse with huge economic potential and the extension to White Rose has cemented the shopping centre as a serious destination for consumers and businesses alike. We’re delighted to have snapped up a space in the extension which we believe is a fitting venue for our first new Hut in over six years. Today’s opening marks a significant landmark in our business strategy which has, for the past five years, focused on the restructure of our existing portfolio of restaurants across the UK.”
The portfolio is nearing completion and the business has reaped the benefits; latest reported figures for the business revealed like for like growth of 6.2% for the period from 1st December 2014 to 29 November 2015, having achieved nine quarters of consecutive growth.