Pizza Hut is set to shut 68 restaurants and a further 11 delivery sites in the UK - at a cost of over 1,200 jobs - after the company operating them fell into administration.
DC London Pie appointed FTI Consulting as administrators yesterday, plunging the future of the chain in the UK into doubt.
However, Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut's global owner, has confirmed it will step in to save 64 restaurants and 1,276 jobs, the BBC said.
A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK said: "We are pleased to secure the continuation of 64 sites to safeguard our guest experience and protect the associated jobs."
Nicolas Burquier, managing director for Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, said: "This targeted acquisition aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible."
Frank Bouette, a partner at city law firm DMH Stallard and specialist in restructuring and insolvency, said: "Operating as a dine in and delivery model when there is fierce competition by delivery online models - with lower overheads - was always going to be a challenge.
"As the market shifted toward fast app-based delivery, delayed investment in tech and logistics has caught up with them.
"Add in varying product experience across locations; blurred market positioning; the cost of physical restaurants (which its delivery competitors didn’t have); the overhang and effect of the pandemic on dining trends; and inconsistent brand delivery resulting from varying franchises – it’s a wonder it survived this long."