Pizza Hut will close 68 UK restaurants after its dine-in operator, DC London Pie, fell into administration, placing Aberdeen’s two sit-down venues under threat.
The company has not confirmed which sites will go, nor how many staff will be affected. Aberdeen currently has four Pizza Hut locations: restaurants at Union Square and the beachfront, plus delivery outlets on King Street and in Bridge of Don.
Administrators from FTI were appointed on Monday. In a pre-pack deal, Pizza Hut’s US parent, Yum! Brands, has acquired the UK restaurant operation, a move that will keep 64 sites trading and secure 1,277 jobs.
“This targeted acquisition aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible,” said Nicolas Burquier, managing director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada. “Our immediate priority is operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition.”
The collapse comes roughly six weeks after a Yum subsidiary filed a winding-up petition against DC London Pie, which only took control of 139 UK restaurants in January after buying them out of insolvency from the previous franchisee.
