Pizza Hut celebrated 50 years of innovation in 2008

On May 31, 1958, the doors of a little pizzeria in Wichita, Kansas, opened to serve a thin-crust pizza to a small community. Fifty years on, that pizzeria has developed into a chain of more than 10,000 pizza restaurants worldwide, serving pizza innovations and more.

Back in 2008, Pizza Hut and its pizza restaurant franchisees celebrated 50 years and commemorated the May 31 opening with their annual conference and a special gala in Washington, D.C.

In 1958, two brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to buy second-hand equipment and rented a small building on a busy intersection in Wichita. The building sign could only fit eight letters (and a space) and since the brothers wanted to use "pizza" in the name that only left room for three letters. A family member suggested the building looked like a hut, and so Pizza Hut was born. The little pizzeria became the first Pizza Hut and served 10 and 14-inch pizzas, mostly as take away.

The next year, the first pizza franchise location opened in Topeka. Today 144 franchisee organisations operate more than 80 percent of Pizza Hut locations in the United States. The entrepreneurial spirit that founded Pizza Hut is the same spirit that drives the pizza restaurant franchise company today.

Scott Bergren, president and chief concept officer of Pizza Hut, Inc., explained, "Something very special happened 50 years ago thanks to the entrepreneurs who believed in that little pizzeria. The success of Pizza Hut continues to be driven by the dedicated franchisees that have helped grow this brand to a global company."

Today, the original Pizza Hut is located on the campus of Wichita State University as it was dedicated to the Centre for Entrepreneurship in 1986.

Pizza Hut has become renowned for its crust variety and innovative pizza creations. The signature Pan Pizza was established in 1980 and the Stuffed Crust Pizza in 1995. Pizza Hut has also been an "out-of-the-box" leader with its innovations such as Cheesy Bites, The Edge(R) and P'Zone(R) pizzas.

In April 2008, Pizza Hut pizza franchise company became the first national pizza chain to deliver restaurant quality pasta with the introduction of its two varieties of Tuscani Pastas.
The first Pizza Hut television commercial with the "Putt Putt to Pizza Hut," jingle aired in 1965. The familiar red roof restaurant made its debut in 1969 as the casual dining restaurants began to rapidly expand. By 1971, the pizza franchise company was the number one pizza restaurant chain in the world in both sales and number of restaurants.

Additionally, Pizza Hut has provided countless memories for customers and employees. Stories of post-game celebrations, first dates and wedding proposals have lived on in communities across the country.

"We continue to hear heartwarming stories about how our restaurants have made a difference in people's lives and communities," added Bergren. "We've had employees meet at Pizza Hut and get married, and we've hosted countless celebrations and birthdays over the years. Pizza has an amazing way of bringing people together."