The History and Evolution of the Pizza Hut Logo

Pizza Hut is a world-renowned multinational fast-food chain founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Today, it is arguably the largest pizza chain in the world, with more than 18,000 stores, and is owned by Yum! Brands. The Pizza Hut logo has undergone significant changes since its inception in 1958. These changes reflect the evolution of the brand and its adaptation to consumer preferences. The article explores the changes in the Pizza Hut logo over the years.

The Genesis of the Pizza Hut Logo (1958–1970)

The first Pizza Hut logo was introduced when the company was founded in 1958. This logo featured the words “Pizza Hut” in bold, scarlet-red letters, utilising a modern serif typeface. The letters with pointed ends were playfully arranged at varying heights, which added a sense of creativity and fun to the identity of the brand. This design was simple yet effective, which made it easily recognisable and memorable. The design was crucial for a new restaurant chain entering a competitive market.

(1962-1970)

In the first redesign of the logo, the colours were changed from scarlet red to black, and the wordmark was simplified. In the comparatively thinner wordmark rendered in a sans-serif typeface, the letters were placed horizontally in a straight line. Interestingly, the letters were not at the same level. For instance, the right leg of the letter “A” was longer, while the letters “U” and “T” hovered a little above the rest. Finally, the top and bottom of the wordmark had black lines to show they have enveloped the brand name.

(1970–1974)

In 1973, Pizza Hut introduced a new logo that had a monochrome palette, primarily black and white. It featured the brand name stacked vertically rather than horizontally. Although this design was less bold than its predecessor, it retained the playful tilt of the letters and maintained a sense of personality. This logo set the stage for future designs by introducing a two-level structure.

(1974) (Prototype)

The prototype of the iconic red hat logo that became a signature logo for the brand was introduced in 1974. It featured an inclined square banner with rounded corners. The thick black outline to the left of the square gave a 3D effect. Inside the square, a red hat stood at the top, while the black wordmark on two levels appeared below. Rendered in a fancy typeface, the letters “Z” and “H” had curved tails and a horizontal bar, respectively.

(1974–1999)

The 1974 logo redesign symbolised the “hut” aspect of Pizza Hut. This design featured the brand name displayed prominently beneath the red roof or hat in bold black lettering. The red roof or hat represented the physical structure of the restaurants and became a recognisable emblem of the brand itself. This iteration of the logo would remain in use for 25 years and establish the identity of the brand in the fast-food industry.

(1998) (Prototype)

This particular logo iteration was rendered in a black-and-white colour palette. Here, the hat appeared in smoother lines and was placed a little above the handwritten wordmark. The letters of the wordmark gave the impression of being drawn by brush strokes. A thick black diagonal line in the form of a stroke was placed below the logo.

(1999–2010)

In 1999, Pizza Hut updated its logo once again and returned to the red roof or hat design, but with a more modern twist. Designed by Landor Associates, the famous design bureau, the logo was given a glossy finish to enhance its visual appeal and evoke a sense of speed and movement. The letters of the wordmark were adjusted to be blockier and more structured, while the overall design maintained the familiar roof or hat shape.

The diagonal black underline of the previous logo was given a yellow touch, and the dot above the letter “i” was given a green touch. Besides, the red hat was given a thick black outline. This logo aimed to resonate with a new generation of consumers while honouring the brand’s heritage.

(2008-2017)

In 2008, the logo featured a square divided into two segments. The upper, bigger segment in a maroon-coloured background had an enlarged red hat with black contours placed at the centre. On the other hand, the smaller, bottom segment of the square in a dark brown background had the brand name written in white with uneven placement of letters.

(2008, 2010) (Prototype)

This logo iteration was introduced in 2008 and featured the wordmark with geometrical letters and sharp angles. Written in a bold sans-serif typeface, the white letters with a red outline were set against a black background. Two short horizontal lines in white with red outlines appear below the individual wordmarks. Finally, above the letters in white was an extended red hat with white accents on the sides.

(2010-2014)

This particular iteration of the logo is reminiscent of the 1999 logo. However, there was some gradient added to the red hat, which made it appear vivid and glossy. The handwritten wordmark in black appeared in a larger size with thicker lines. The yellow line underneath the logo was a little extended compared to the 1999 logo.

(2014) (North America)

Based on the 2010 logo, this logo iteration did not have the yellow line at the bottom of the wordmark and the green leaf above the letter “i.” Instead, the green leaf was replaced with a black one. However, the stricter approach evoked a sense of professionalism.

(2014-Today)

This logo version featured a solid red circle behind the brand name, with the hat and wordmark rendered in bold white. The circular shape was symbolic of pizza itself and reinforced the core product of the brand. This iteration focused on a clean and modern aesthetic. It made it suitable for various marketing platforms and appealed to contemporary consumers at the same time.

(2019–Present)

The most recent iteration of the Pizza Hut logo was launched in 2019, which closely resembles the 1974 design. This logo features a bright red hat and retains the classic black and bold wordmark. This return to a familiar design reflects the brand’s strategy to evoke nostalgia while ensuring instant recognition in a crowded market. The logo continues to symbolise the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that Pizza Hut aims to provide in its restaurants.

The Elements of the Pizza Hut Logo

Colour

The Pizza Hut logo has undergone several colour changes throughout its history. At various times, the brand used a straightforward black-and-white design, and there were periods when yellow and green were prominent in the logo. Currently, the Pizza Hut logo features a colour scheme of red and black, typically set against a white background.

Font

The wordmark used to show the brand name employs a distinct custom typeface. This latest version of the logo was introduced with the Flavour of Now campaign, which also featured a sleek, industrial sans-serif typeface for the campaign’s slogan.

The History of Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut is a prominent American fast-food chain and global franchise known for its Italian-American cuisine. The restaurant serves a variety of pizzas, side dishes, pasta, and desserts. Founded by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas, the first Pizza Hut location opened in 1958 with a modest loan from their mother. By 1959, they introduced a popular buffet concept, which significantly contributed to their rapid growth. By the late 1960s, Pizza Hut boasted over 300 locations

The brand continued to expand throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and marked its first international expansion in Canada in 1968. After going public and being listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Pizza Hut was acquired by PepsiCo in 1977, which facilitated further growth. During this period, the menu was diversified to include pasta, sandwiches, and salads, and the iconic red roof logo was introduced.

The expansion of Pizza Hut surged in the 1990s and 2000s, with over 7,500 new locations opening globally. The company also embraced innovative marketing strategies, which included movie sponsorships and the introduction of stuffed crust pizza. In 1997, Pizza Hut, along with KFC and Taco Bell, became part of Tricon Global Restaurants. Later, this evolved into Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company.

In recent years, Pizza Hut has focused on digital advancements to enhance customer convenience. They launched online ordering in 2013, which enabled customers to customise pizzas and track deliveries. They have also experimented with new technologies like drone delivery and AI chatbots. In 2017, Pizza Hut became the official pizza sponsor of the NFL, which further boosted its brand visibility.

With over 18,000 locations in more than 100 countries, Pizza Hut remains one of the largest pizza chains globally. It continues to adapt according to evolving consumer preferences and technological innovations.

Interesting Facts About Pizza Hut

The Pizza Hut chain was founded in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Kansas by borrowing $600 from their mother.
The brand name was conceptualised with 8 letters, as the signage outside the original building had space for only 8 letters.
Mikhail Gorbachev released a television ad that was set in a Pizza Hut store.
Pizza Hut even delivered a 6-inch pizza to space when Russian astronaut Yuri Usachov received his order through a resupply rocket while he was onboard the International Space Station. This, however, cost Pizza Hut more than a million dollars. The pizza delivered to space resulted from a yearlong collaboration between Russian food scientists and Pizza Hut.
In a PR stunt, delivery men from Pizza Hut hiked 6 hours to reach the highest point in Africa, the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and took a pie. It was done to create a record for pizza delivery to one of the highest altitudes on earth.
The original 500-square-foot Pizza Hut store was moved from its location to the Wichita State University campus in Kansas. It has since been transformed into a museum housing memorabilia from Pizza Hut and other details.
Barbara Bush ordered the first delivery of Pizza Hut to the White House in 1989. She did it on purpose to arrange for refreshments during a charity event hosting 200 children at the White House.
Pizza Hut runs a charity programme called Book It! In which it encourages children to read. Each year, the programme reaches more than 14 million students.
Pizza Hut had a mascot called Pizza Pete in its early days. However, it has been replaced by the red roof or hat symbol since the 1970s.
Donald Trump and his ex-wife Ivana had saved the stuffed-crust pizzas from going into oblivion when the duo appeared in an ad urging Americans to eat stuffed-crust pizzas. The ad gave Pizza Hut a handsome revenue of $30 million in its first year.
Pizza Hut had expressed interest in affixing its brand to the face of the moon using a laser. However, the plan could not fructify, as the logo would have had to be the size of Texas to be visible from space.
Pizza Hut operates through more than 16,000 stores in over 100 countries.
To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Super Bowl, Pizza Hut gave away gold-covered pizzas to a few lucky ones. In addition to the same, the lucky ones were given $100 worth of Pizza Hut Gold Cards.
Pizza Hut organises a national pizza championship where Pizza Hut chefs from across the US participate and compete in five rounds to create the most delicious pizza.
There is a blog run by a fan of Pizza Hut called “Used to Be a Pizza Hut,” where photos sent by users from around the world showing the transformation of such stores into churches, adult video stores, and others, are displayed.
There is a 17-minute training video from Pizza Hut made in 1988 on YouTube.
Pizza Hut opened its first store in Russia in 1990. The most popular pizza in Russia was called Moskva, which had toppings of tuna, sardines, salmon, mackerel, and onion.
The Canadian Pizza Hut had come out with a pizza-scented perfume for a limited period. It was described as “fresh dough with a bit of spice.”
Pizza Hut was the first company to launch online ordering in 1994.
Pizza Hut was owned by PepsiCo in 1977.
One of the owners of Pizza Hut, Frank Carney, became a franchisee for Papa Johns, a rival pizza chain, after selling the company to PepsiCo. He even appeared in a Papa John ad where he stated, “Sorry guys, I found a better pizza.”

Finally

The evolution of the Pizza Hut logo illustrates the ability of the brand to adapt while maintaining its core identity. Each redesign has been influenced by changing consumer preferences and design trends, yet the iconic roof or hat element has remained a constant symbol of the brand. As Pizza Hut continues to innovate and expand, its logo is likely to evolve further. However, its foundational elements will always connect back to its rich history.