Pizza Hut unveiled its biggest plans ever in Australia yesterday with the launch of its new Tuscani Pasta range on 27 January. The chain will also introduce a new Pasta Hut brand, to be trialed in the Sydney market.
Pizza Hut chief executive officer, Albert Baladi, said the move marks the beginning of the brand’s goal to regain market leadership.
“The launch of Tuscani Pasta, along with testing the Pasta Hut brand, is the first step in Pizza Hut reinventing itself. The company is investing in significant changes in every area of the business in an effort to double the business within five years.
“Pizza Hut has always been all about pizza and our much loved pizzas will remain on the menu. However, we will now be the first national pizza chain to offer delivery restaurant quality pasta at very affordable prices. We want to be as famous for our pasta as we are for pizza,” said Baladi.
Sydney’s Martin Place and Surry Hills stores will be the initial sites to trial the new name Pasta Hut. Additionally, Pizza Hut is asking Australians to vote for their preferred name – Pizza Hut or Pasta Hut. Voting will be live for six weeks and the votes will be gathered via a digital campaign.
Prior to launching Tuscani Pasta, the company tested the product with 350 people across Australia and undertook national research which revealed seven out of 10 Australians say that pasta is their favourite meal.
In addition, Pizza Hut is making significant changes in four other key areas this year including a new lunch-based concept and a state-of-the-art website.
Big enough to serve four adults, Tuscani Pasta is available in two different flavours: Meatball Napolitana, and Creamy Chicken and Mushroom for the introductory price of $14.95, including five foccacia breadsticks.