Pizza Hut Opens in Sudan for First Time

In the midst of the ongoing Sudan protests, Sudan witnesses the opening of the first Pizza Hut and first American restaurant chain on Al Mashtal Street in Riyadh, Khartoum on Friday, 1 March 2019.

The international franchise, Pizza Hut, has at least 16,700 restaurants worldwide, which was founded in 1958 by Dan and Frank Carney, is known for its Italian-American cuisine menu, including pizza and pasta, as well as side dishes, salads and desserts. 

Sudan is home to many restaurants, cafes and other eateries, many of which are locally or regionally known, originating from Egypt, Ethiopia, Yemen and other MENA countries. Pizza restaurants are specifically sought-after in Sudan with Debonairs Pizza, a South African-based pizza restaurant chain franchise, and Italy Pizza & Broast taking the lead as two of the most popular pizza restaurants in Sudan with multiple branches across Khartoum.

Social media users have expressed their excitement over the opening of the much-anticipated Pizza Hut.

تم افتتاح #بيتزا_هت في الخرطوم 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/jxT8RaFPoo

— Dr. Hem!xY🇸🇩 (@Hemixy) March 1, 2019

Some social media users have also expressed worry over the prices of food at Pizza Hut with a small pizza, costing SDG150 – 350 to a large pizza, costing SDG350 – 700.

Pizza Hut 🍕
Small : 250 – 300
Medium : 450 – 500
Large : 600 – 700 #تسقط_بس 😂😂😂😂

— Á. (@_MarceloA12) March 1, 2019

[At Pizza Hut Sudan]

Me: yeah hi can I get one small pepperoni pizza

Cashier: ok that would be 350 SDG sir

Me: pic.twitter.com/ZSmNl2dUJC

— Á. (@_MarceloA12) March 1, 2019

let’s open a Pizza Hut in Sudan and just for fun we add unreasonable prices so no one eats there.

— 🐆 (@TheFahadHakim) March 1, 2019

Naa the new Pizza Hut in sudan is mockingggg it with them prices

— yea aiiiight (@rafa_satti) March 1, 2019

The opening of Pizza Hut in Sudan was announced a year ago soon after the US sanctions have been removed. The fast food restaurant company Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is also expected to open soon.

Food joints in Sudan stay winning.

Same people flocking to pizza hut are the same people who want the sanctions to be lifted for the other franchises to come through.

Y’all not eating the food. You wanna eat the brand….

— ⋀Ξ (@awab09) March 2, 2019

In October 2017, the US permanently lifted its economic sanctions on Sudan, ending two decades of embargo, as part of a shift in bilateral relations with the country. However, businesses are still unable to operate dollar transactions, insurance companies are cut off from the reinsurance market and the local airline is virtually grounded for lack of spare parts. Sudan still remains on the terrorism list, which blocks access to funding from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, support that Sudan needs to pull out of inflation that hit nearly 73% in December 2018.

Sudan has been witnessing widespread protests since 19 December 2018 due to a hike in prices of basic commodities such as bread and fuel shortages. Thousands of protesters are calling for the end of President Omar Al Bashir’s 30-year rule.