[MR.K!]

Pizza Hut is changing. Say hey to Pasta Hut !

'Pizza Hut is rebranding itself as Pasta Hut in a bid to overhaul the company's image and menu. The firm is undergoing an extensive £100 million six-year refurbishment programme that will revamp its restaurant interiors, introduce a new menu and extend its number of outlets.'
- MSN

http://www.pastahut.co.uk/Home

[Matt]

It's a completely pointless move IMO - if it ain't broke, why fix it?

[Lauren]

At first I didn't like the idea but since I heard the story yesterday I've been craving pasta, so....

[Locke.]

Good, I'll eat there for once.

[Shaun]

Originally posted by Matt
It's a completely pointless move IMO - if it ain't broke, why fix it?

[Nicky.]

Well, they ran out of dough in the Pizza Hut by me.. so specialising in pasta may do the trick xD

[MR.K!]

i hope they keep thier great wide ranges of Pizza's

[Sam!]

WHY! If they make pasta the new thing then that sucks, their pizza is the best!

[Matt]

Pizza Hut to become Pasta Hut

Restaurant chain Pizza Hut is to change its name to Pasta Hut in an effort to develop a healthier image.

The chain, which launched its first restaurant in Britain in 1973, is replacing its pizza-focused menu with a menu consisting mainly of pasta dishes.

This means that as well as the traditional deluxe pizzas, customers will also have the option of ordering more sophisticated dishes such as tomato and mozzarella mezzaluna and prawn and crayfish arrabiata.

The re-branding is part of an £18 million revamp package designed to attract new customers and move it into more upmarket terrain.

As part of the revamp, the chain is temporarily naming 30 of its branches Pasta Hut.

Pizza Hut boss Alasdair Murdoch said: "We've really been on a journey for four or five years, trying to make our food better, offer more variety and quality for the customers.

"Now we're putting our food above the parapet. We're trying to say to people: 'Yes, we're great at pizzas, but we're also great at salads and pasta.' Pasta is around 3 or 4 per cent of our sales. I'm very sure in a couple of weeks' time that will be 10 per cent."

Mr Murdoch said they have also upgraded their distinctive salad bar and have made improvements in areas including the nutrition and quality of ingredients in their pizzas and pastas.

A statement from the company also says that the restaurant plans to sneak 'hidden vegetables in kids' meals'.

The re-naming is for a trial period only and customers can offer their thoughts on the new-look restaurants at Pastahut.co.uk.

The company will be keen to hear feedback from customers since the decision to change such a big, household name is potentially a very risky one.

In 1998, Kellogg's briefly changed the name of Coco Pops to Choco Krispies in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and South Africa so that they could be in line with Germany and Spain, where it is known by this name. However, after falling sales and a telephone poll in which the British public voted, its name was reverted in 1999.

Another classic British brand Opal Fruits were renamed Starburst in 1998, the name under which they had been exported to the US in the seventies. The original name is now set to return in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the change.

Cadbury reintroduced the Wispa last year after an internet campaign which also involved protesters storming a stage at the Glastonbury festival.

Source: Telegraph

[Locke.]

I hope they scrap the pizzas and just sell pasta

[LemonJam]

Why not just call it Italian hut and have pizza and pasta.

[MR.K!]

Sorry, but if thats true then they are going to loose Millions !

[Jack]

"A pasta hut, a pasta hut, Kentucky fried chicken and a pasta hut"

Doesn't have quite the same ring, eh?

[Jake!]

Are they serious?!

[Matt]

Originally posted by LemonJam
Why not just call it Italian hut and have pizza and pasta.

Great idea!

[Arneldo]

But why? Surly pizza is far more marketable then pasta?

[Matt]

Originally posted by Arneldo
But why? Surly pizza is far more marketable then pasta?

The thing is, Pizza Hut is an extremely iconic and well established brand name.

Sure, introduce more pasta dishes on your menu, but is it really worth rebranding the restaurants and cutting back on the amount of pizza dishes available?

[Sam1994]

I'm not going back to the Huts anymore. Their pasta will be disgusting, and if they still do pizzas, they'll be focussing on the pasta and the pizza will be disgusting. Bad move. Bad move.

[Spike]

I hate the idea

[Sam!]

I want Pizza hut back. The little BBeye kind of Pasta Hut flashes suck too.

[*mazedsalv**]

Yeah I saw about 7 adverts in 1 ad break along.

[hannah.]

I hate pizza hut. when delivered its alright, but every single one i've been to across the country, the service has been awful and the food has been cold. And theyre always so dirty! Makes me shudder

[Hugo]

I don't hate the idea just see no point.

[hannah.]

Originally posted by tooperfect
I don't hate the idea just see no point.

now this, i agree with.

[Kate..]

They already sell pasta, what's the point. They can be a pizza hut and still sell pasta. They're loosing their known name!