PLANO, Texas, Dec. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pizza Hut, a
subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), today announced that
its U.S. business has entered into a definitive agreement to
acquire QuikOrder, a leading online ordering software and service
provider for the restaurant industry. Terms of the deal were not
disclosed, but it marks one of Pizza
Hut's largest acquisitions to date.
By acquiring QuikOrder's online ordering capabilities, Pizza Hut
U.S. will improve its ability to deliver an easy and personalized
online ordering experience and accelerate digital innovation across
its base of more than 6,000 restaurants in the U.S. In 2018,
approximately half of Pizza Hut U.S. sales were processed through
QuikOrder's platform. Founded in 1997, QuikOrder specializes in
developing and maintaining internet-ordering systems used across
the QSR industry. It has served Pizza Hut U.S. for nearly two
decades. Over that time, it has built an expert team that fully
understands and meets Pizza Hut's specific needs. The acquisition
will include: Pizza Hut's current digital ordering platforms,
systems and services and QuikOrder's in-restaurant technology and
ancillary services, as well as its future generation products and
programming.
"We're doubling down on our commitment to digital and this deal
positions Pizza Hut perfectly for the future," said Artie Starrs, President of Pizza Hut U.S. "We're
also gaining access to an immensely talented group of developers
and digital innovators. Together we can more quickly provide
breakthrough products and convenient services to our customers that
will allow for better franchise economics over the long term."
The proposed acquisition supports Pizza Hut's strategic
commitment to further expand its digital capabilities, by taking
full advantage of the stable, highly customized platform that
QuikOrder developed for Pizza Hut in a way that provides greater
flexibility and efficiency. This builds on the strides Pizza
Hut has made over the past year, since entering into its
Transformation Agreement with its franchisees, focused on improving
operations and accelerating technology enhancements and e-commerce
capabilities. In this time, Pizza Hut has introduced a range of
innovative online ordering tools and services, such as a delivery
tracker with text alerts, easy order options through voice-enabled
digital assistants and social, and Hut Rewards, the only national
pizza loyalty program that rewards members for every dollar spent
on food online.
Greg Creed, Yum! Brands Chief
Executive Officer, stated, "Yum! is always looking for ways to make
our brands more distinctive, relevant and easy for customers who
want delicious food at an irresistible value. The acquisition
strengthens the brand's digital roadmap and innovation and aligns
with the strategy we put in place to drive Pizza Hut's growth.
We're excited by the opportunity this acquisition presents, and the
future potential to scale QuikOrder's technology across the Yum!
family."
"We've enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Pizza Hut
and I couldn't be more pleased by this next phase of our
relationship," said Jim Kargman,
QuikOrder CEO. "Technology and innovation are the backbone of this
business and I'm excited by what the future holds."
Pizza Hut's acquisition of QuikOrder is expected to close this
month, subject to standard closing conditions.
About Pizza Hut®
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum!
Brands, Inc. (NYSE : YUM ), has more restaurant locations
in the world than any other pizza company. Founded in 1958
in Wichita, Kan., Pizza Hut operates more than 16,000
restaurants in more than 100 countries.
With easy order options including the Pizza Hut app, mobile
site, and Amazon and Google devices, Pizza Hut is committed to
providing an easy pizza experience – from order to delivery – and
has the only loyalty program, Hut Rewards, in the U.S. that offers
points for every dollar spent on food any way you order.
Pizza Hut is also the proprietor of The Literacy Project, an
initiative designed to enable access, empower teachers and inspire
a lifelong love of reading. The program is rooted in the foundation
set by the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program, which is the longest-running
corporate supported literacy program, impacting more than 14
million students each year. For more information,
visit www.pizzahut.com. Pizza Hut is the Official and Only
Pizza Sponsor of the NFL and NCAA®.
About Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in
Louisville, Kentucky, has over
45,000 restaurants in more than 140 countries and territories and
is one of the Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders in North America. In 2018, Yum! Brands was
recognized as part of the inaugural Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
and ranked among the top 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate
Responsibility Magazine. In 2017, Yum! Brands was named to the Dow
Jones Sustainability North America Index. The company's restaurant
brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – are the global leaders of
the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. Worldwide,
the Yum! Brands system opens over seven new restaurants per day on
average, making it a leader in global retail development.
About QuikOrder
Located on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, QuikOrder.com was
developed by QuikOrder, Inc., a Chicago-based company specializing in
developing and maintaining internet ordering systems used by
businesses of all sizes—from your local restaurant to the world's
largest pizza chains—since 1997.
Contacts
Pizza Hut Media Relations: Brett LeVecchio,
972.338.8288, brett.levecchio@yum.com
Yum! Media Relations: Virginia
Ferguson, 502.874.8200, virginia.ferguson@yum.com
Yum! Investor Relations: Keith
Siegner, 502.874.7112, keith.siegner@yum.com
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SOURCE Pizza Hut