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The other day I wrot on Yum Brands and how they’ve decided to include calorie counts on their menu items (Yum Brands Doesn’t Get It). But now I know they are completely out of touch.
In Yum’s wisdom they’ve decided to re-brand world famous Pizza Hut to…drum roll please….
Pasta Hut…
What say you kahunas? Are they meatballs or what?
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October 19th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
See, Scott, this is why you should read my blog first thing every day (before you get misled by others). For I too saw this story and thought they must have lost their sanity but I dug around a bit and found out that it’s just a promotion (originally timed to coincide with April 1 in the U.S.) See here: http://www.pizzahut.com/newsroom/2008/aprilFools.aspx
That said, having a promotion that’s confusing us and, most likely, customers as well just to promote some ho-hum pasta doesn’t seem like a great idea. Just not as bad as a permanent name change.
October 19th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Punked by Pizza Hut, damn! You’re right though it’s still dumb. Did you see Yum’s decision to put calorie counts on all their menu items?
October 19th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I thought it was a joke as well, but it appears it may not be in the UK.
http://tinyurl.com/4f6gws
And check out http://www.pastahut.co.uk/Home
It does appear to be a promotion though - but a real one.
October 19th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I’ve seen the Pasta Hut ads here in the States, and each time they leave me shouting imprecations at the tv screen. Usually along the lines of “You’re PIZZA HUT for gosh sake! If you want to promote your stupid pasta, FINE, but you are all about PIZZA! Everyone knows you as pizza! Why must you torment me thus!!”
October 19th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Tell us how you really feel Joi! As usual you’re right on the mark. Even if it is a spoof it works against their brand identity. People don’t go to Pizza Hut for pasta. It’s like going for Chinese food and ordering a hamburger. Hell no, I want the Pu Pu Platter!
October 19th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
The other problem I have with Pizza Hut is their desire to tell us how much the food weighs. They do this with the pasta and their pizza/calzone/whatever sandwich thingy. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a frame of reference to know that 6 pounds (or whatever it is) of pasta for $11.99 is a good deal. How many people will that serve?
I don’t understand Domino’s hot sandwich either. I get they feed the need to diversify, but I think they’d be better served coming up with better pizza than trying to find other foods to sell.