Pizza Hut is back under new franchise holder; regular international inspections planned

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 November 2015, 22:10 by GxMedia

The American restaurant chain, Pizza Hut, is back in Guyana under a new franchise holder with special emphasis being placed on hygiene and high quality and standards, representatives said Thursday.

Director of Marketing for Pizza Hut Guyana, Navin Singh said safety and supply audits have been passed  to ensure that they comply with  United States and international standards.

Pizza Hut’s Franchise Coach for Latin America and the Caribbean, Carlos Martinez said initially all local branches would be inspected once monthly and then once every six months.  “We have persons coming from the United States that will ensure the locations meet the standards of quality, sanitation, regulation…and meets the standard of our Pizza products in the United States,” he said

Pizza Hut was shut down about one year ago amid concerns that the local operations under the previous franchise holder had been run down. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has also exited the Guyana market after checks by foreign inspectors.

Singh declined to disclose the amount of money that has been invested by the Corum Group in bringing back Pizza Hut to Guyana.

The Corum Group, through Pizza Hut, plans to employ more than 350 persons over the next three years. Initially, two branches would be opened before the end of December, 2015 at Camp and Regent Streets and Stabroek Square. On the question of selecting employees, Singh said the emphasis would be on hiring persons with the right personality. “We can always teach skills but we can’t really teach having a good personality or being happy,” he said.

Officials also announced that Banks DIH would be supplying Coca Cola to Pizza Hut branches across the country.  Banks DIH’s Marketing Executive, Carlton Joao said his company and Pizza Hut would be working on several projects including next year’s Olympics. “It’s exciting time for us! With some amount of things going on negative in the country but things being launched, especially with employment, these people are going to be employed again, is an extremely positive thing for Guyana and we are glad to be a part,” he said.

The Corum Group says it plans to open six branches during the next three years. Pizza Hut Guyana will be the first in the Caribbean to sell pizza by the slice.

The local operations will be officially opened on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 5 PM, ahead of its opening to the public on Wednesday, Decemeber 2, 2015.