UK Pizza Hut Locations Saved From Closure by Last-Minute Intervention

A string of Pizza Hut locations in the UK have been saved from closure in the proverbial 11th hour thanks to a last-minute intervention from several law firms.

Law.com is reporting that Fried Frank, Linklaters, and Clifford Chance have helped ensure the future of Pizza Hut outlets in the United Kingdom following the brand’s sale to a private equity entity in the United States. Directional Capital (DC), an investment firm, acquired Heart With Smart (HWS), the operator of the UK Pizza Hut’s dine-in locations, in a pre-package transaction.

The rescue arrangement comprises the transfer of 139 restaurants across the United Kingdom, as well as the job security of over 3,000 employees who have been transferred to the DC-backed purchase entity, DC London Pie.

Fried Frank assisted HWS and the administrators from Interpath Advisory in reorganizing and selling the Pizza Hut locations. The Fried Frank team was chaired by restructuring and insolvency lawyer Ashley Katz, and it comprised corporate real estate partner Roger Schofield, who had recently arrived from Freshfields, finance partner Neil Caddy, and tax partner Richard Pilgrim.

Meanwhile, Norton Rose Fulbright assisted the buyer, Directional Capital, with corporate partner Clementine Hogarth in charge, according to a person familiar with the acquisition.

Pizza Hut Recently Released Its Annual Pizza Trends Report

While the Pizza Hut locations in the UK have been saved from closure, its U.S. cousins recently released the company’s annual pizza trends report, which gives insights into what Americans like on their favorite Italian-inspired dish.

Amongst the myriad of findings:

• The average person consumes 288 slices of pizza annually, which equals about 480 gallons per individual. Nationwide, this adds up to a staggering 95 billion slices of pizza per year — enough to fill 240,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• 32% of people anticipate eating even more pizza this year compared to 2024.
• Kansas takes the top spot for monthly pizza consumption, with residents averaging 9.4 slices per month. Following closely are North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, which all had over nine slices per month.
• When it comes to creative pizza toppings, mushrooms reign supreme at 57% popularity. Other unique favorites include garlic (41%), pineapple (38%), anchovies (8%), pickles (8%), and cherries (2%).
• Thin crust is expected to remain the go-to choice for pizza lovers, according to Pizza Hut’s predictions. Consistent with its 2024 survey, thin crust is the most preferred type (29%), followed by stuffed crust (24%) and hand-tossed crust (23%).