Pizza Hut vs Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise Comparison

While college students in Wichita, Kansas, Frank and Dan Carney were approached by a family friend with the idea of opening a pizza parlor. Inspired, the brothers borrowed $600 from their mother, purchased secondhand equipment, and rented a small building on a busy intersection in their hometown. With that, the first Pizza Hut opened its doors in 1958. More than 40 years later, Pizza Hut has locations throughout the world serving its specialty pizzas. Pizza Hut is owned by Yum! Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and formerly Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants.

The total investment necessary to begin operation ranges from $40,600 to $168,230 for a Pizza Hut Mini Kitchen; $109,700 to $179,230 for a Pizza Hut Kiosk; $99,200 to $199,230 for a Pizza Hut Retail Counter; $109,700 to $420,900 for a Pizza Hut Retail Counter with Seating; $241,550 to $472,000 for a Pizza Hut Full Kitchen with Seating (in each case, not including real property or signage), including $6,000 to $17,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.

    

#28 in Canada's Top franchises.

Using the family recipe for hand-tossed dough, the sauce made from fresh-crushed California tomatoes, and imported Italian cheese blends, Anthony became the sole owner and chef of his first restaurant Russo’s Pizza in the early 80’s. "It was 800 square feet. I had a pizza oven, a dough mixer and two tables. That's it. I could only sit eight people.” A few years later, he created Anthony’s Pizzeria, located in Clear Lake, Texas, and soon moved to Houston.

For almost a decade, Anthony refined his menu using classic Italian family recipes and zeroed in on the perfect New York-style pizza. In 1992, Russo’s New York Pizzeria opened in downtown Houston, Texas and proved to be a success.

 

Russo's Restaurants is a national and international franchisor of the fast casual and casual dining brands Russo's New York Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russo's Restaurants are composed of a mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Hawaii. Russo's has entered international markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. There are an additional 20-plus units in development both in the United States and internationally. Chef Anthony Russo has created his concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes featuring New York-style pizza along with a broad variety of handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come first.