yum brand CEO Chris Turner said selling Pizza Hut would allow the restaurant giant to focus resources on Taco Bell and KFC, which it sees as its biggest growth opportunities.
“This will position Pizza Hut for even more growth going forward, and it will give Yum more focus on these three brands,” Turner said Tuesday on CNBC’s “Mad Money.” “Of course, the two biggest companies are Taco Bell and KFC. They have an incredible blank opportunity in front of them.”
On Tuesday, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and Habit Burger & Grill announced plans to sell Pizza Hut to private equity firm Long Range Capital for about $1.5 billion, while Yum China will buy the brand’s mainland China operations for about $1.2 billion.
Turner, who took over as CEO in October 2025, said the move will allow Yum to focus on expanding its remaining brands, particularly Taco Bell and KFC, while Pizza Hut will be able to pursue its own growth strategy under new ownership.
“We’re talking about raising the bar, fighting for future consumers, accelerating the restaurant economy, and unlocking Byte’s full potential in the technology ecosystem,” he said. “If we can do that by focusing more on these brands, we’ll see a lot more growth.”
Taco Bell remains one of the company’s strongest growth drivers. Turner noted that the chain has increased same-store sales by 18% over two years, significantly outpacing much of the restaurant industry.
“Taco Bell’s magic formula is working and delivering what consumers need in this environment,” he said.
The CEO also highlighted the brand’s international potential. Taco Bell currently operates about 1,200 restaurants outside the United States, but Turner believes that number could increase significantly over time.
“One day there will be thousands of Taco Bells all over the world,” he said.
According to Turner, KFC presents another big opportunity. He described the fried chicken chain as a “powerful” brand with approximately 34,000 restaurants around the world and strong momentum across international markets.
