Becoming a notable presence in the pizza sector, Frank Carney, alongside his elder brother Dan, initiated the Pizza Hut chain in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958, initially as a standalone enterprise. They acted upon a landlord's request to establish the first pizzeria in an unoccupied building. Upon a friend's suggestion, they embraced the unconventional notion of launching a pizza parlor, believing in its potential for success. With a $600 loan from their mother, they partnered with John Bender to embark on this venture. Securing a small space at 503 South Bluff in downtown Wichita and acquiring secondhand equipment to craft pizzas, the Carneys and Bender inaugurated the inaugural Pizza Hut restaurant, even offering complimentary pizza on the opening night to stimulate community interest.
Despite their limited understanding of pizza and business fundamentals, by 1977, Frank and Dan Carney had propelled their enterprise into a powerhouse, spanning over 4,000 outlets and generating billions in annual sales.
Within half a year, they opened a second branch, and within a year, they expanded to encompass six Pizza Hut restaurants. The brothers commenced franchising in 1959. The early 1960s witnessed Pizza Hut's rise, driven by an assertive marketing campaign centered around the pizza restaurant concept. In 1962, the Carney brothers acquired Bender's stake, and Robert Chisholm assumed the role of company treasurer. By 1966, with the count of Pizza Hut franchise units reaching 145, a central office was established in Wichita to streamline operations. In 1968, the first international Pizza Hut branch made its debut in Canada. Concurrently, the company made its initial public offering in the open market. By 1971, Pizza Hut had secured global leadership in pizza sales and restaurant numbers.
In 1977, PepsiCo Inc. acquired Pizza Hut for over $300 million. Nonetheless, Frank continued to lead as Pizza Hut's president and maintained a position on the PepsiCo board until 1980. Frank's engagement in the pizza industry persisted as he assisted John Schnatter in founding and managing Papa John's, eventually becoming a franchisee in 1994. By 2001, Frank had amassed ownership of 133 Papa John's locations before ultimately selling his franchise to Terry Newman.
The Carney brothers: Pizza Hut Co-Founder Success
