When it comes to anniversaries, 55 rarely gets the pageantry it deserves. That simply isn’t the case for America’s largest and most-storied pizza company, Pizza Hut, which today launched a historic deal to celebrate its 55th anniversary: $5.55 large pizzas. Through June 15, customers can carry out a one-topping large pizza – on Pan, Thin ‘N Crispy or Hand-Tossed Crust – for just $5.55.
“The $5.55 anniversary deal is our way of thanking customers for helping us become the biggest pizza brand in the world,” said Kurt Kane , Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut. “More people enjoy Pizza Hut pizza every day than any other pizza brand in the world, and we’re proud to be the only ones able to offer a deal this good as part of our anniversary celebration.”
Pizza Hut first opened its doors in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958. What began with two brothers and a $600 loan from mom has evolved into an iconic American brand and pipeline of innovations that has changed the way America consumes the famous food. It began with Thin ‘N Crispy crust in Wichita and following rapid store growth Pizza Hut rolled out the Super Supreme pizza followed by a pair of culinary icons: Pan Pizza in 1980 and the Personal Pan Pizza® in 1983. In 1995 the brand again hit the mark with the Stuffed Crust Pizza, which still today marks the most successful product launch in Pizza Hut history and has led to new creations like Cheesy Bites Pizza, Ultimate Stuffed Crust Pizza and the latest, Crazy Cheesy Crust Pizza.
Pizza Hut has also progressed beyond the round pie, now offering a full line of Tuscani Pastas and WingStreet chicken wings. These category additions to the permanent Pizza Hut menu led to the current value-box craze led by Pizza Hut: Big Dinner Box, $10 Dinner Box and the recently introduced $10 Any Dinner Box.
Mirroring its menu innovation, Pizza Hut has consistently pushed the envelope in the digital space. It all began in 1994 when a Pizza Hut pizza was the first item ever purchased via the Internet, followed by more formal “online ordering” in 2001. In 2008 Pizza Hut introduced mobile ordering via text messages, which then evolved into a groundbreaking ordering app for the iPhone. Beginning in 2011, customers had the option of ordering Pizza Hut through apps for the iPad, Windows and Android smartphone, along with an all-new app for the iPhone and an app for Xbox.
With a bevy of ordering options in the tech and mobile spaces and more than 6,300 restaurants across the country, Pizza Hut offers more points of access than any pizza company in America. Accessibility and a relentless effort to make it great for customers have also earned Pizza Hut affection from fans across social channels. The brand currently has more than 10 million Facebook fans, more than 300,000 Twitter followers, and hundreds of thousands more loyal and hungry supporters across a multitude of other social touch points.
