Pizza Hut’s sale, Jersey Mike’s new crown, KFC’s next chapter

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Yum! Brands’ sale of Pizza Hut, Jersey Mike’s overtaking of Chick-fil-A in a major consumer sentiment study, and KFC’s announcement that it was entering a new chapter for growth. First up is Pizza Hut, which was officially sold by Yum! Brands in two transactions totaling $2.7 billion. Sam and Alicia discuss the potential future of the brand, and particularly its U.S. business, which was acquired by relatively new private equity firm LongRange Capital. Can Pizza Hut reclaim the loyalty of fans who are nostalgic for its Classic model? Next up they talk about the most recent American Consumer Satisfaction Index, in which Jersey Mike’s came out on top — after 11 years of Chick-fil-A taking the crown. Should Chick-fil-A be worried? Sam and Alicia break down the study and why the data matters (to a point). They then transition to KFC, which announced a new “chapter” in which the company would focus on menu innovation, refreshed branding, and modernized stores. Alicia breaks down all the components of this new chapter, and she and Sam talk about how KFC is well positioned to learn from its global stores here in the U.S. They shift their attention to the increase in store closures — On the Border, for example, is now down to only 6 units — before closing with a Quick Fire round in which they cover Panera Bread’s new bowls and McDonald’s (brief) reintroduction of its beloved Apple Pie.

For more on these stories:

Pizza Hut to be sold to LongRange Capital

Jersey Mike's steals customer satisfaction crown from Chick-fil-A

KFC unveils its 'next chapter'