Pizza Hut Sale Confirmed: Yum Brands Sells Struggling Chain for $2.7B

The Pizza Hut sale is now official. Yum Brands has agreed to sell the struggling pizza chain for $2.7 billion across two separate deals. The Pizza Hut sale ends decades of Yum Brands ownership following years of declining sales and rising competition.

Pizza Hut Sale: LongRange Capital and Yum China Are the Buyers

The Pizza Hut sale is divided into two parts. Private equity firm LongRange Capital is buying Pizza Hut globally, excluding mainland China, for approximately $1.5 billion. Yum China Pizza Hut is being purchased separately by Yum China Holdings Inc. for around $1.2 billion.

Yum Brands CEO Chris Turner welcomed both buyers. He said Pizza Hut sale buyers LongRange Capital and Yum China bring deep restaurant industry expertise. He added that Pizza Hut is well positioned for future growth under new ownership.

Both Pizza Hut sale transactions are expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

Pizza Hut Sale: Why Yum Brands Is Walking Away

Yum Brands Pizza Hut has struggled for years. The chain reported declining comparable store sales consistently. Outdated restaurant locations and growing competition made recovery difficult.

Yum Brands first signaled the Pizza Hut sale in February. Around that time, the chain also announced plans to close around 250 underperforming U.S. locations.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, was direct about the situation. He said Pizza Hut has long been the weak link in Yum's portfolio. Reviving the brand would require significant investment and patience. Yum Brands Pizza Hut simply was not a priority worth that commitment.

By completing the Pizza Hut sale, Yum Brands can now focus entirely on stronger performing brands. KFC and Taco Bell both continue to grow, making the Pizza Hut sale a strategic move for the company.

Yum Brands Pizza Hut: A History Before the Sale

Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas. PepsiCo acquired the chain in 1977. The restaurant division was spun off in 1997, eventually becoming Yum Brands Pizza Hut. The Pizza Hut sale in 2026 closes nearly three decades of Yum Brands ownership.

Yum China Pizza Hut: What Happens Next

Under LongRange Capital and Yum China Pizza Hut's new ownership, the brand is expected to pursue fresh growth strategies. Both buyers specialise in the restaurant sector and are seen as strong fits for the Pizza Hut sale transition.

Yum Brands, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, will continue running KFC and Taco Bell after the Pizza Hut sale closes. Company stock declined slightly before the market open following the Pizza Hut sale announcement.

For more business news, read our latest coverage of Yum Brands and fast food industry updates. For official details, visit the official Yum Brands website.