Pizza Hut changes some stores to TheHut

[seven]

Pizza Hut is slicing the "pizza" from its boxes and some store signs. The fast food chain will now brand some stores as simply "The Hut."

However, contrary to earlier reports, the iconic chain won't be changing its name, a Pizza Hut spokesman said Friday. The boxes and some store signs will say "The Hut." Others will retain the Pizza Hut name.

Pizza Hut has recently expanded its menu beyond pizza to include pasta, giving it some reason to alter its branding. Media and advertising trade publication MediaWeek characterized the name change as an attempt to transform its stores into hip hangouts. There are more than 10,000 Pizza Huts worldwide

Full Story:

Pizza Hut changes its name - MSN Money

TheHut.com is in use.

What do you guys think - should it matter to PizzaHut that they don't have TheHut.com even though that seems to be what they are shifting over to?

I don't like the marketing move. Sounds of Microsoft search where nobody was sure what exactly to call them.

 

[-REECE-]

Honestly, I'd like to know who the heck is running their marketing division... Didn't they just recently change some of their restaurants from Pizza Hut to Pasta Hut as well?

Domainers could teach them a thing or two about brand equity.

 

[namewaiter]

would have definitely been smart for them to secure thehut.com, should have done some research and acqusition before the rebrand

 

[john_karr]

Would of been smart if the bought pizza.com!

 

[matt_bodis]

Here comes a downhill ride for PizzaHut. I guarantee it. This happens to all companies that lose focus. They will start focusing on multiple foods now, and that rarely is ever good for business.

 

[zoogo]

a:"Guys lets go to the hut"

b,c:"What hut?"

a:"Nvm lets go to pizza pizza"

--

a:"Lets go get some takeout pasta"

b,c,d,e,: "LOOL"

 

[gazzip]

Pizza Hut is slicing the "pizza" from its boxes and some store signs. The fast food chain will now brand some stores as simply "The Hut."

.

They should have tried slicing the "hut" and buying the Pizza.com :tri: ..oh well, someone else is going to get a shed load of traffic for free !



.

 

[john_karr]

Who bought Pizza.com?

 

[bgmv]

IMO, this is a terrible rebranding effort from Pizza Hut. They are known the world over as Pizza Hut and have established a loyal customer base and amazing brand awareness using the Pizza Hut moniker, why change a good thing? I understand that they have switched their focus from pizzas to include a more diversified menu but so has Domino's - i dont see them rebranding.

This is a really lame decision by their marketing department and dont really understand it. i dont really know how a pizza place could be a hip and cool hang out place unless there is alcohol available Why couldnt they just start a spinoff named "The Hut" - or is that what they are doing now?

 

[primavera]

Probably a domainer behind it in an attempt to shorten their url a la KFC. (JK)

 

[labrocca]

They needed a jingle or clever marketing gimmick. Rebranding...worst idea ever.

 

[gazzip]

Who bought Pizza.com?

National A-1 Advertising - They own loads of top quality names.

looks like they also managed to buy Lighters.com recently, there seems to be a change of ownership since the last time I checked.



.

 

[copper]

Could of just keep "Pizza Hut".
Why change name?

 

[CrazyTech]

Just when they got back on track with better quality food, they seem to be headed down another wrong track with the branding. I agree that this seems to be the malaise where conglomerates lose focus and try to do so much; Hardees was a prime example of this. In the case of pasta at Pizza Hut, I can see this being part, but they are Pizza Hut for cryin' out loud, and that is what they are known as. I don't understand why you would ever want to change that.

 

[DnEbook]

if it aint broke dont fix it , very simple really