Pizza Hut Changes Hands in Ecuador — How the Pizza Market Actually Stacks Up

The Change

Pizza Hut Ecuador has changed ownership. Primicias confirmed the transaction, though the article does not disclose the buyer, seller, or price.

Pizza Hut is the largest pizza chain in Ecuador by both location count and revenue. The ownership change will likely reshape competitive dynamics across a market that looks meaningfully different from what U.S. expats may be used to.

How the Market Stacks Up

Pizza chains operating in Ecuador, with 2024 revenue and locations per Primicias:

| Chain | Locations | 2024 Revenue | |-------|-----------|--------------| | Pizza Hut | 80+ | USD 29.1 million | | Domino's Pizza | 30+ | USD 20.5 million | | Papa John's | 30 | USD 17.6 million | | El Hornero | 26 | USD 1.03 million | | Pizzería Los Tíos | 20 (19 Quito, 1 Guayaquil) | Not filed |

El Hornero is the largest Ecuadorian-owned pizza chain on this list — a point worth noting for expats who prefer local brands. It also has a distinctive brick-oven Ecuadorian pizza style that differs sharply from U.S. chain formats.

Market Context

The market is crowded — possibly oversupplied. Diego Vivero, manager of Pizza SA (an independent Quito pizzeria), told Primicias the pizza market is "muy diverso y variado" — very diverse and varied — and has been "pigeonholed as a single product, a single conceptualization."

The article notes that "after the pandemic, in 2020, there's more supply than demand," with many pizzerias closing even as new ones have continued to open.

Meanwhile, the delivery numbers are big: 706,314 pizzas were ordered through PedidosYa alone in 2025.

What This Means for Expats

• Pizza is a saturated market in Ecuador. Don't be surprised to see Pizza Hut promotions intensify — new ownership typically brings aggressive marketing.
• If you prefer independent or artisan pizza, Ecuador has a strong local pizza culture — Pizzería Los Tíos in Quito, El Hornero's brick-oven style, and a wide range of regional independents you won't find in U.S. markets.
• Delivery via PedidosYa is the dominant channel for most residents. If you're sampling a new chain, it's the quickest way in.
• Prices sit in a different zone than the U.S. Ecuadorian delivery pizza is typically $8-15 for a large pie regardless of chain, with less upsell pressure than in U.S. markets.

A small story — but a useful window into how franchise economics actually play out in a dollarized economy with different wage structures and consumer habits.

Source: Primicias