Pizza Hut's Personal Pan: Where Did It Go?

In May 2019, Pizza Hut announced it was tweaking the recipe to its Original Pan Pizza for the first time in 40 years. The new recipe includes a crispier crust, a new stringier brand of cheese, and a new sauce. The change has not been well-received by customers, with many complaining that the new recipe is inferior to the original. As a result, a Change.org petition to bring back the original recipe has gained over 2,650 signatures.

Pizza Hut changed the recipe of its Original Pan Pizza in 2019

In May 2019, Pizza Hut changed the recipe of its Original Pan Pizza for the first time in almost 40 years. The company announced that its Original Pan Pizza would be completely remade, including a new cheese blend, sauce, and a ""newly engineered" pan to bake it in for a crispier crust.

The new recipe took three years to develop, with Pizza Hut claiming that they "focused on combining art, science, and culinary expertise" to improve the pan pizza. The new pan was designed to "perfect the golden-brown, crispy buttery crust" while making the center chewier. Pizza Hut also changed the cheese recipe, switching from whole milk to part-skim mozzarella, and altered the sauce-to-cheese ratio.

The change in recipe was met with mixed reactions from customers, with some preferring the original recipe that Pizza Hut had used for 39 years. A petition to bring back the original recipe has gained over 2,650 signatures, with fans asking for the original buttery crust, classic sauce, and cheese. The petition also highlights concerns over the inclusion of ingredients like soy and soybean oil, which affects customers with food allergies.

The new recipe has a different sauce, cheese, and crust

In May 2019, Pizza Hut replaced the classic recipe of their Original Pan Pizza with a new version. The new recipe features a different sauce, a stringier brand of cheese, and a crispier crust. The sauce in the new recipe is made with tomato sauce, oregano, marjoram, basil, and garlic salt. The cheese is shredded mozzarella, and the dough for the crust contains yeast, sugar, salt, non-fat dry milk powder, vegetable oil, and all-purpose flour.

The new Pizza Hut pan pizza recipe has sparked mixed reactions from customers. While some people enjoy the new version, others prefer the original recipe that the company used for 39 years. Some fans have even started a petition to bring back the old recipe, expressing their preference for the original sauce, cheese, and buttery crust.

Customers prefer the original recipe

Customers have expressed a strong preference for the original Pizza Hut pan pizza recipe, citing a range of reasons why the new recipe falls short of their expectations. The original pan pizza held a special place in the hearts of many, evoking fond memories of childhood and a sense of nostalgia. The unique taste and texture of the original recipe had created a loyal fan base, with customers raving about the golden, crispy, and greasy crust, which was a key differentiator from other pizza options.

The new recipe, introduced in May 2019, included changes to the sauce, cheese, and crust. While Pizza Hut claimed that the new crust would be crispier, customers noticed a significant difference in texture and taste. The new crust was described as paler, breadier, and less crunchy, losing the golden, greasy quality that made the original so appealing. The new cheese blend and sauce formulation also failed to impress loyal customers, who felt that these changes diluted the unique flavour profile they had come to love.

The changes to the pan pizza recipe were particularly disappointing to those with food allergies, as Pizza Hut started including ingredients like soy, soybean oil, soy lecithin, and monosodium glutamate. These changes excluded customers with allergies from enjoying Pizza Hut pizzas without risking an allergic reaction.

The backlash against the new recipe has been significant, with a petition to bring back the original recipe gaining over 2,650 signatures. Customers have expressed their disappointment and frustration, with some even refusing to patronise Pizza Hut until the original recipe is reinstated. The strong negative response highlights the importance of maintaining the signature taste that customers have come to know and love, demonstrating that when it comes to food, change is not always welcomed, and the taste memories of loyal customers should not be underestimated.

A petition to bring back the original recipe has over 2,650 signatures

In May 2019, Pizza Hut replaced the classic recipe of their Original Pan Pizza with a new version. The new recipe includes a different sauce, a stringier brand of cheese, and a crispier crust. However, the change was not well-received by all customers, with many preferring the original recipe that had been used for 39 years. In addition to the change in taste, Pizza Hut has recently included ingredients like soy and soybean oil, which has made it impossible for customers with food allergies to eat their pizza without having an allergic reaction.

As a result, a petition was started on Change.org by Stuart Green, calling for the company to bring back the original Pan Pizza recipe. Change.org is a website that allows users to create and sign petitions to advance various social causes by raising awareness and influencing decision-makers. The petition has gained significant traction, with over 2,650 signatures as of June 2024. The petitioners are asking Pizza Hut to bring back the original recipe permanently, with the same ingredients that fans knew and loved for almost four decades. They specifically request the return of the original buttery crust, classic sauce, and cheese.

The petition highlights the power of consumer petitions and the potential for social media to fuel such campaigns. While not every petition succeeds, a successful petition can inspire like-minded activists, gain media attention, and become too loud for a company to ignore. In this case, the petitioners are hoping that their collective voice will be heard by Pizza Hut and that the company will take action to address their concerns.

The petition also underscores the importance of businesses monitoring public sentiment and acting early to address potential issues. By responding to the concerns of their customers, businesses can maintain their reputation and avoid negative publicity. It remains to be seen whether Pizza Hut will respond to the petition and bring back the original Pan Pizza recipe, but the number of signatures indicates a strong desire from customers for the return of the classic recipe.

Pizza Hut's competitors are also changing their recipes and strategies

Domino's has also not been shy about changing its recipe and strategy. In 2009, the company scrapped its 49-year-old pizza recipe and introduced new value offerings and technology to enhance the customer experience, such as allowing customers to track their orders. This strategy has paid off, with Domino's opening its 16,000th store and growing by nearly 50% in the last five years.

Papa John's, another key competitor, is also experimenting with new menu items and technology to make up for lost ground after a year of scandals. The company is trying out sandwiches and new technology to improve its delivery services.

Other pizza chains are also adapting to stay competitive. For example, Chicago Pizza, one of Pizza Hut's biggest competitors, has been growing at a rapid pace and now has over 35,000 restaurants worldwide. Additionally, Burger King, another fast-food giant, has been changing its menu and strategies to stay relevant in the market.

The landscape of the pizza industry is dynamic, with companies constantly innovating to attract customers and stay ahead of the competition. Pizza Hut's decision to change its Original Pan Pizza recipe is a response to the evolving market and the success of its competitors, who are also continuously refining their recipes and strategies.

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