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news
Pizza Hut becomes Pasta Hut
For the first time in the company’s 50 year
history, and for a trial period, Pizza Hut is to
change its name to Pasta Hut in order to
mark the launch of a new range of pastas on
its menu (including traditional lasagne and
spinach and ricotta cannelloni).
In what proposes to be an extensive six-
year refurbishment programme, Pizza Hut
has announced an investment of £100
million in its restaurants. This year, report the
company, they have already spent £17
million updating over 100 restaurants with a
contemporary new look and state of the art
equipment. Many of these restaurants have
recorded double digit sales increases since
the redesign, claim the chain, and a further
Domino’s
£24 million will be invested on restaurant
refurbishment and new store openings in
continues to
2009 and 2010. Pizza Hut’s Hugh Wood
confirmed to Pizza Pasta & Italian Food
beat the credit
magazine that this new move was not a
publicity stunt, and that the trial was likely
crunch
to last for one or two months initially
involving thirty stores. 30% and says that it is committed to further
Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc has announced
“We have made significant changes to the a 10% reduction over the next three years
its first Interim Management Statement
business over the past few years and we with the intention of meeting the FSA’s salt
following its admission to the Official List.
wanted to create a moment in time for targets for 2010. The children’s menu has
Covering the period from 30 June 2008
people to sit back and take notice,” said Pizza been revamped to include hidden
to 28 September 2008, the statement
Hut’s CEO, Alasdair Murdoch, in a statement. vegetables and a complimentary side salad.
reveals that following on from its half year
“With 120 refurbished stores, the All traces of hydrogenated vegetable oils
results, Domino’s Pizza is continuing to see
introduction of a great new pasta range to have been removed from the menu, and
strong momentum in its business with
the menu and big nutritional changes, I am there is also an ongoing saturated fat
system sales for the 13 week period up
confident that people will like what they see removal programme, say the chain
17.8% to £83.3m (2007: £70.7m), and
when they come into our restaurants.” (customers are being encouraged to offer
bringing the company’s total system sales
Pizza Hut launched a salt reduction their feedback on both the pastas and new
for the 39 weeks to 28 September 2008 to
programme in 2004, when salt levels in ‘Pasta Hut’ name at Pizza Hut’s revamped
£253.5m (2007: £213.2m), an increase of
some products were reduced by as much as web site, www.pastahut.co.uk).
18.9%.
Like-for-like sales in its 449 mature stores
(2007: 404 mature stores) for the period
Mixed fortunes
More
were up 8.8% (2007: 14.1%), bringing total
like-for-like sales growth for the 39 weeks
The International Grains Council has raised its wheat
increases?
to 28 September 2008 to 10.5% (2007:
forecast by four million tonnes to 676 million tonnes
After a summer of wet
14.6%).
(in line with the latest from USDA). The EU, Ukraine
weather and wet harvests, it
Store openings had also progressed well,
and Russia figures were revised upwards and Australia
is likely that food prices
with a further nine openings during this
downwards. 2009 wheat yields in Russia and the
could rise even further, say
period, bringing the total number of stores
Ukraine are expected to be down due to shortage
industry observers. In light
opened in the year to date to 34 (2007: 29
of funds to finance inputs. In the UK, feedwheat
of the wash-
stores). Domino’s confirmed that their store
futures have slid as farmers sell their
out, farmers
opening programme is still on track to
distressed wheat and excess stocks,
have been
achieve their target of 50 new store
although premiums for milling
leaving it
openings this year. As at 28 September
wheat remain
later than
2008, the company had 535 stores
strong.
usual to
(including one store temporarily closed for harvest, and
refurbishment at the reporting date). have spent
“Trading in the third quarter has extra money
continued strongly and is particularly on fuel to
encouraging given the strong help dry
comparatives during the same period last crops out for
year,” said Chris Moore, chief executive. “We safe storage. However, some
are very pleased with the momentum in feel that a last minute
the business and the resilience of our improvement in the
business model during these more prevailing weather could yet
challenging economic times.” see things improve.
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pizzapasta
October 2008
AND ITALIAN FOOD
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