In defense of Pizza Hut

In defense of Pizza Hut

I join the "healthy" debate going on in The Jakarta Post
regarding the foreign food outlets in Indonesia.

Pizza Hut is a favorite jaunt for many Indians living here,
especially for the vegetarian-gourmet lovers. When I first came
over here a few years ago, I was quite surprised to find that
people here had never heard of a vegetarian restaurant. I
couldn't even find the equivalent word for "vegetarian" in Bahasa
Indonesia!

Pizza Hut certainly filled the vacuum with their special offer
of vegetarian pizza, combined with the delicious vegetable salad
bar. Eating out became possible for the pure vegetarian families
with the existence of Pizza Hut branches all over. We can even
have birthday parties for the kids at Pizza Hut due to the
variety and flexibility of the menu.

Mr. P.G. Punchihewa claims in his letter published in The
Jakarta Post dated June 28, 1994, that pizza, in whatever shape
it takes, has a liberal spread of cheese. I was also of that view
until recently, when a friend of mine explained that one can
indeed order a pizza without cheese. I tried a vegetarian pizza
without cheese at the Pizza Hut in Pondok Indah Mall, and I
should say it tasted equally delicious!

Pizza Hut may not exactly stand for public health! But one has
to agree that Pizza Hut, like other foreign food restaurants,
thrives in Indonesia, or for that matter, in any part of the
world, purely on their strict quality standards, reasonable
prices, and clean, beautiful and hygienic ambience.

If marketing is a discipline of clearly defined elements --
the 4 Ps, which are Price, Product, Promotion and Place
(Distribution) -- it is indeed certain that these retail chains
clearly know their marketing strengths.

A definition of a modern wife aptly describes the situation
thus: "One who knows what her husband's favorite dishes are and
the restaurants that serve them!"

D. CHANDRAMOULI

Jakarta