300 Pizza Huts Could Close, Fate Of CT Locations Uncertain

CONNECTICUT — Up to 300 Pizza Hut restaurants could be doomed for closure as part of a deal announced Monday between parent company Yum Brands and its largest U.S. franchisee, NPC International. The exact impact in Connecticut was uncertain Tuesday because no specific locations have been named, an NPC spokeswoman said.

NPC owns 1,227 Pizza Hut locations, or about 20 percent of them nationwide. The balance of the locations after a sale would be sold off, according to NPC's announcement. NPC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection early last month with a debt burden of abut $1 billion.

Underperforming Pizza Huts would be the ones targeted for closure and the "Substantial majority" of those closing would be dine-in restaurants, according to the announcement.

In theory, that would translate to a minimum impact in Connecticut. Pizza Hut's listings include a dine-in restaurant in New Britain and then quick-hit Pizza Hut Express locations in Manchester, Windsor, Berlin, Meriden (temporarily closed), Lisbon, Southington, Waterbury, Dayville, North Haven, Milford, Ansonia, Trumbull and Bethel.

No final determinations have been made regarding which restaurants will ultimately be closed, nor on the timing for any closures, according to NPC.

NPC and Pizza Hut said they will attempt to relocate employees of closing locations elsewhere in the company. NPC also owns about 400 Wendy's restaurants in the U.S.