Welcome to Episode 10 of the 13th season of the Retroist Podcast. In this episode, I discuss the pizza-producing powerhouse, Pizza Hut.

I had attempted to record this show once about 6 years ago and it long and rambling. I wanted a show that gave a nice overview of the history of the company. Hopefully it will fire up your interest in its history and/or its pizza.

I start the show by talking about pizza in my hometown growing up. Our area had a great number of solid pizza offerings. So it did not sit right with my Mother that we would go to a chain to enjoy pizza. This naturally caused me to rebel and sneak out to enjoy meals at Pizza Hut with friends.

The history of Pizza Hut is of course a lot more complex than what I am covering here. But it should broadly give you the background of the origin, growth, and issues that this food giant has tackled. Starting with its founding in Kansas, through its purchase by Pepsi, and finally its spinoff into what is now Yum! Brands.

It’s amazing how food can trigger nostalgia and for many people Pizza Hut was their first foray into eating pizza. My options might have been broad, but the warm welcoming interior of older Pizza Huts and their creative product development made me a fan and continue to draw me back.