KFC and Pizza Hut's Turkey rights terminated: Are operations continuing? Statement released

World-famous fast food chain Yum! Brands has terminated its franchise agreement regarding KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in Turkey. It was noted that due to the decision, 537 restaurants operating in Turkey could temporarily close.

A HASTILY MADE DECISION?

İş Holding, which holds the rights to the two brands in Turkey, stated that the decision was made due to financial concerns and in a hurry.

Yum! Brands announced that it has terminated its franchise agreements with İş Gıda, the operator of all KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in Turkey.

While the company stated that the termination process would affect 283 KFC and 254 Pizza Hut restaurants, it cited İş Gıda's failure to meet Yum! Brands standards as the reason for the decision.

STATEMENT RELEASED ON THE MATTER

In a statement regarding the issue from İş Gıda, a subsidiary of İş Holding AŞ, it was noted that the company, which is the owner and operator of KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in Turkey, incorporated the KFC brand in 2020 and the Pizza Hut brand in 2022, and increased the total number of restaurants to 537 within the first 3 years, representing a 300 percent growth.

'OPERATIONS ARE CONTINUING' STATEMENT

The statement, which noted that İş Gıda, providing employment to approximately 7 thousand people as of 2025, was deemed worthy of the Yum! Growth Partner Award by Yum! Brands Global in 2023 thanks to this performance, included the following: "The compliance of all our KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants with global operational standards is regularly audited by independent audit firms approved by Yum! Brands, and since our operation meets these quality standards, it continues its activities without interruption."

The statement reported that the process regarding the unilateral termination decision, which is claimed to have been taken by Yum! Brands as a result of a hasty evaluation due to financial concerns, is ongoing.