Pizza Hut Gets Into The Burger Business
Pizza Hut is officially entering the burger game with an interesting, new item, the Cheeseburger Melt. What makes Pizza Hut think they can play with America’s big boys like McDonald’s,…
AUSTIN, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 01: A Pizza Hut store is seen on November 01, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Pizza Hut’s third-quarter revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations for same-store sales. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)Pizza Hut is officially entering the burger game with an interesting, new item, the Cheeseburger Melt.
What makes Pizza Hut think they can play with America’s big boys like McDonald’s, Burger King, or Wendy’s?
Back in the 80’s, McDonald’s launched the McPizza which didn’t go as well as expected. However, there is still one McDonald’s in the U.S. you can still purchase the McPizza.
According to McDonald’s.fandom.com: The product originated as a family-sized pizza that was brought out to the table by an employee and placed on a raised rack in the center. Later it was scaled down to a personal-size pizza. By 1991, the McDonald's test markets for pizza had grown to over 500 locations before being placed on hold. The McPizza was discontinued in almost all restaurants by around 2000 because the eleven to sixteen-minute cook was out of sync with the restaurant's reputation for fast service.
Where Can I Still Try The McPizza?
As of 2024, McDonald's pizza is still available at only one location, in Orlando, Florida at the world's largest McDonald's.
After seeing a photo of the advertised product, I think that Pizza Hut will have more success selling burgers than McDonald’s did selling pizza.
This sucker is a handheld masterpiece, containing a parmesan cheese coated Thin N’ Crispy crust folded over a juicy burger, applewood-smoked bacon, onions, and both mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, then served with what looks like a cup of some sort of dipping sauce.
No soggy buns at The Hut! Only a cheese coated crispy crust. I’d hit that in a heartbeat!
According to a company press release, "For the first time ever, we packed everything you know and love about a cheeseburger into our craveable Thin N' Crispy® crust to develop the new Cheeseburger Melt," said Rachel Antalek, Chief Food Innovation Officer at Pizza Hut. "Unlike a traditional cheeseburger, the Cheeseburger Melt dips perfectly into what we would argue is the world's best burger dipping sauce. We challenge you to find a better burger and sauce experience."
Challenge accepted, Rachel.
