Three branches of Pizza Hut closed across Sussex after the company that owns the British franchise went bust.
The outlets to close are at Brighton Marina, Crawley Leisure Park and, in Eastbourne, at the Admiral Retail Park, in Lottbridge Drove.
The branches are among 68 to close across the country while 64 outlets were sold as part of a “pre-pack administration”.
Eleven delivery sites have also closed as part of the wider “restructuring” of the business, leaving more than 1,200 people out of a job.
DC London Pie, which had the franchise to run Pizza Hut restaurants in Britain and Ireland, appointed administrators from specialist firm FTI Consulting yesterday (Monday 20 October).
The 64 branches that were saved were sold to Yum! Brands, the American owner of the global Pizza Hut business, preserving 1,276 jobs. Yum! also owns KFC and Taco Bell.
FTI said: “Like many casual dining businesses, DC has been impacted by challenging trading conditions and increased costs.
“In addition, it faced material cash flow pressures as a result of tax-related obligations.”
The increased costs have included bigger energy bills and higher taxes such as employees’ national insurance.
Pizza Hut’s UK business previously went into administration in January this year when it was bought by the American private equity firm Directional Capital – not the chain’s first private equity owner.
Two other Sussex branches closed yesterday – at Crawley Leisure Park and, in Eastbourne, at the Admiral Retail Park, in Lottbridge Drove.
