Pizza Hut staff get taste of the future as firm serves up rebranding exercise

All 16,000 Pizza Hut staff have tasted the restaurant chain's new dishes as part of their training for its transformation to Pasta Hut, HR director Jayne Little has revealed.

It took two weeks to take all 700 managers to the firm's London headquarters for a full day's training in the look, feel and flavour of the new pasta menu - and a further two weeks to organise tasting sessions and briefings for the remaining employees.

Little told Personnel Today: "When you launch something like this, you really want your staff to be proud. Every member of staff went through the making of the pastas, tasting and trying the new range, to make sure they can recommend them to customers."

Several e-mails to staff, and teasers on the intranet have also helped prepare the company for the rebrand.

"We've been involving people right from the beginning," said Little.

The name change, which is on trial until December when the company will consider whether to make it permanent, has already seen pasta sales rise, according to Little.

"Staff have also got something new to talk to the customers about, which means they can build rapport - good news when they rely on tips," she added.

Pizza Hut is also benefiting from the deepening economic turmoil, because it offers affordable menus, Little said.

"People that wouldn't usually come to us are coming at the moment, as they stop going to places they can't afford. Team members aren't too concerned about [the credit crunch]."