The History of Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut is one of the largest chains in the world. But do you know the history behind this iconic pizza restaurant? Pizza Hut was started by two brothers, Dan and Frank Carney. They founded the very first Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas in 1958 using $600 borrowed from their mother. They chose the name because it fit on the existing sign on the building they were renting. Later, the building was picked up and moved to the Wichita State University campus, where it will eventually become a Pizza Hut museum. The chain originally had a mascot named Pizza Pete, but he was later replaced by the iconic red roof that’s been the brand’s symbol since the 1970s. Pizza Hut was the first to launch online ordering in 1994, and in 2001, they became the first pizza company to deliver pizza to the moon; Russian astronaut Yuri Usachov received his pizza via a resupply rocket. Today, there are over 16,000 Pizza Hut stores all across the world and their food continues to be an iconic favorite for many.