The Carney brothers: Pizza Hut Co-Founder Success

Frank Carney, born in Wichita, Kansas, on April 26, 1938, was among seven siblings. He attended local schools and contributed to the family grocery business after school and during weekends.

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

Daniel M. Carney of Pizza Hut

Dan had studied business at Wichita State University in their hometown. While interrupting his education to serve in the U.S. Air Force, Dan studied the early successes of fast-food pioneers McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, and noted the increasing popularity of pizza, before returning to Wichita State to complete his degree.

In 1958, after borrowing $600 from their mother, Carney and his younger brother, Frank, decided to open up their own pizza restaurant. The brothers purchased second hand equipment but really had no idea how to make pizza.

The Dan and his brother managed to find someone to teach them how to make pizza only two weeks before their first store opened, they met a man named John Bender, who had a pizza recipe. They tried Bender’s mixture, liked it and included him in their business venture. Pizza Hut was born.

Pizza Hut became one of the most successful restaurants in Wichita and expanded rapidly. Within 10 years of the company's founding, the Carney brothers had grown their single outlet to over 300 stores, with the stores' red roof becoming a logo and eventually an icon.

In 1968, the first international Pizza Hut opened in Canada. That same year Pizza Hut went to the open market with a public offering. In 1971, it became the world leader in pizza sales and number of restaurants. Despite their lack of basic knowledge about pizza and business in general, Dan and Frank Carney by 1977 had molded their business into an empire of more 4,000 outlets with annual sales in the billions.

It still remains the largest pizza chain in the world. In 1977, the company was purchased by food giant PepsiCo. In October 1997, PepsiCo founded Tricon and transferred control of Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell chains to it.
Daniel M. Carney of Pizza Hut

The origin of Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut, the international restaurant chain, was founded in Wichita, Kansas, by brothers Dan and Frank Carney, students at Wichita State University.

They operated a pizza parlor across from the family store to pay for their college education. The first Pizza Hut was opened in Wichita, Kansas in 1958. The Carneys started serving pizzas from a small, six hundred square foot restaurant.

Unsure of exactly how to make pizza when they first opened and using a recipe borrowed from a friend.

Six months later the brothers opened their second restaurant. Within a year there were six Pizza Hut outlets. The brothers began franchising Pizza Hut in 1959.

PepsiCo purchased Pizza Hut in 1977. Stockholders approved the for a reported $300 million. Pizza Hut began a process to Americanize its image. Its initial logo – an Italian chef tossing pizza – was changed to the red roof that symbolized their ‘hut’.

By 1990 Pizza Hut ranked fourth in sales among all chain restaurants.

In 1997 Pizza Hut was spun off from PepsiCo into Tricon Global Restaurants now Yum! Brands Inc.

The origin of Pizza Hut

History of Pizza Hut

History of Pizza Hut
The history of Pizza hut began in 1958, when what is now the world's largest pizza franchise was born. Pizza Hut is the world's largest pizza restaurant chain and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., whose restaurants total approximately 34,000 restaurants.

The whole history of pizza hut has been achieved through innovation, but the history of pizza hut really took off with amalgamation into the Pepsi Company and more aggressive marketing techniques especially in the take out market.

It was founded in 1958 by Dan and Frank Carney. Their friend suggested opening a pizza parlor they agreed with the idea that it could prove successful, so that they borrowed $600 form their mother to start a business. At that time the original Pizza hut was at Wichita State University with 25 seats.

When making the sign for the restaurant they only had enough room for nine letters and because they made pizza's they wanted pizza in the name, that only left 3 letters and because the restaurant looked like a hut they named it Pizza Hut.

Their first franchise was opened in 1959 in Topeka, Kansas. In 1977, Pizza Hut was acquired by Pepsico.

On April 1, 2008, Pizza Hut sent emails to customers advertising that they now offer pasta items on their menu. The email (and similar advertising on the company's website) stated "Pasta so good we've changed our name to 'Pasta Hut'."
History of Pizza Hut