Q&A with William Barker, Head of UK Development for Pizza Hut
Name: William Barker
Role: Head of UK Development
Who are Pizza Hut Delivery?
Pizza Hut is part of Yum! Brands, who own and operate the likes of Taco Bell, KFC, Wing Street and The Habit Burger Grill. Yum! Brands have over 52,000 restaurants in over 150 counties worldwide.
The Pizza Hut Delivery concept first opened its doors in the UK back in 1988 In Islington, North London and we now have over 360 delivery huts.
We are a franchise business with each Pizza Hut being operated by an entrepreneurial individual(s). Some franchisees may have 1-5 huts, others may have 20+ huts.
Target locations?
We try to be flexible with our approach, but our focus tends to be on high streets, secondary parades, shopping centres and roadside locations.
We have identified over 280 suitable locations for a Pizza Hut.
How many new stores are you targeting?
We are looking to open as many as possible over the next 12 months.
Size requirements?
We are looking for retail units that are equal or greater than 650ft2 GIA.
Additional requirements?
Parking and preferably demised
Minimum floor to ceiling height of 2.8m
Minimum retail unit width of 4.5m
Planning consent?
A5 use class or Sui Generis for hot food takeaway.
We will consider all other use classes, on a subject to planning basis.
Freehold or Leasehold?
Our franchisees will look at either.
Recent openings or new restaurants in the pipeline?
At the back end of 2021 we opened Bishops Stortford, Cardiff and Bedford to name a few. We have a very strong pipeline for 2022 but still need more sites. Please check out the Pizza Hut Property Flyer.
Additional Questions:
What are the main challenges you face when acquiring new property?
Planning is a consideration, but we have excellent consultants that can deal with it.
What is your favourite building?
One of my favourite buildings would be the St Pancreas Renaissance Hotel. Visually stunning!
Favourite retail destination?
I don’t do that much shopping, but I would say central London around Oxford Street and Regent Street if pushed!
Contact details:
William Barker - Head of UK Development
Mobile: 07773259439
william.barker@yum.com
Or
pizzahutproperty@yum.com
Retained Agents
Scotland - David Simmons (HSA Retail): david.simmons@hsaretail.com
Northern England - John Peach (Peach Projects): john@peach-projects.co.uk
South Wales - Owen Cahill (EJ Hales): owen@ejhales.co.uk
Southern England - Thomas Nulty (Nulty Cader): thomas@nultycader.com
