Pizza Hut Inverness job fears after administration deal puts dozens of restaurants at risk of closure
Dozens of Pizza Hut restaurants are at risk of closure, with hundreds of jobs at risk, after the chain’s dine-in operations fell into administration.
Around 68 of its venues are understood to be at risk of closure after Pizza Hut UK bought the Pizza Hut dine-in operations as part of a pre-packed administration deal.
This saw business consulting firm FTI announced today as administrators of DC London Pie Limited, a franchisee of Pizza Hut which had bought the chain’s dine-in restaurant partner back in January.
As part of the new deal Pizza Hut UK said it was “pleased to secure the continuation of 64 sites to safeguard our guest experience and protect the associated jobs”.
It has not yet been revealed which sites are at risk of closure and which will be continuing. Inverness boasts two outlets, only one of which - the Eastfield Way site - operates as a dine-in restaurant.
It is not known if it is at risk, but it is currently listed as “temporarily closed” on search engine giant Google, despite welcoming diners just last week.
Under the new deal, Pizza Hut UK said that around 1277 staff “will transfer to the new Yum! equity business under UK TUPE legislation, including above-restaurant leaders and support teams”.
Around 700 jobs are at risk at the remaining dine-in sites.
In a statement shared with The Inverness Courier, Nicolas Burquier, managing director international operating markets, said: “This targeted acquisition aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible. Our immediate priority is operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition.”