Pizza Hut Franchisee Use of Upside Jumps 77% to Drive Traffic and Retention

Operators embrace performance-based model to drive traffic without discounts or operational lift

May 20, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 2025 — More than 1,000 Pizza Hut restaurants across 20+ franchise groups now use Upside — a 77% increase year over year — as operators seek smarter ways to attract traffic amid tighter household budgets and shifting consumer behavior.

Upside complements existing marketing and loyalty efforts by helping operators reach lapsed and first-time customers they wouldn’t otherwise capture. Through its digital marketplace reaching more than 35 million consumers, the platform delivers personalized, margin-aware cash back offers that shift consumer behavior and bring customers through the door.

“Franchises need growth levers that are easy to activate and deliver measurable value — especially as consumers become more selective about how and where they spend,” said Ryan Gaylor, Head of Restaurants at Upside. “At the recent IPHFHA Spring Meeting, operators were challenged to drive seven incremental transactions per day while simplifying operations. Upside helps them hit that target — with no upfront investment, integration, or added work.” 

What differentiates Upside is its pay-for-performance model. Franchisees only pay when they see measurable, incremental profit — not just impressions or clicks. There’s no operational lift or integration required, and performance is tied directly to changes in customer behavior and visit frequency.

Recent Upside data from Pizza Hut franchisees shows:

  • 45% of Upside customers were brand-new visitors
  • Repeat visits increased 2.4x
  • Operators saw an average 82% return on investment

“Today’s environment leaves little room for guesswork,” said Greg Chaffin, Brand Officer at Tasty Restaurant Group. ”Upside gives us measurable growth with incremental new traffic and guests without needing to offer steep discounts."

More than 65,000 restaurants nationwide now use Upside to bring in new customers and increase visit frequency. To learn more, visit upside.com/restaurants.

About Upside
Upside is a technology company that helps millions of people get more purchasing power on the things they need, and tens of thousands of businesses earn measurable profit. Our platform uses personalized, performance-based promotions to bring customers more value while ensuring businesses earn more profit — with no changes to their operations. For more information, visit upside.com.

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