The Pizza 'Hat'?

The Pizza 'Hat'?

Is Pizza Hut in Indonesia refurbishing its look in the new
millennium? The "Hut" previously resembled a roof but it now
sports a modern hat. The "hat" is inclined and quite stylish, and
it conjures up an image of a young lady, looking at her boy
friend with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

The logo's color coding has changed to a combination of red,
green and black, instead of "dotting" the "I" in "Pizza", a
slanting greenish patch has been introduced at the top. The word
"Hut" is underlined to confirm its unique character and perhaps,
the company's trademark rights.

There is also an attempt to modernize and improve the interior
design of their restaurants, as seen in their new outlet in Blok
M Plaza. The waiters new uniforms look soft and trendy. The
waiters themselves, as always, offer polite and smiling service,
and some of them love to speak English.

All this is fine and welcome, But, isn't it all a case of old
wine in a new bottle? It would have been preferable if, along
with these (cosmetic?) changes, there were innovative ideas,
especially on the vegetarian fare at Pizza Hut.

For many vegetarian families in Jakarta, Pizza Hut continues
to be one of their favorite jaunts for dining out, but alas,
there is simply no variety -- the same "old" veggie pizzas, salad
bar and garlic bread.

If somebody at home suggests going to Pizza Hut, the immediate
reaction is: "Oh no!, not Pizza Hut, again"? It is because every
time one visits Pizza Hut, the food is dull and boring, with a
standard menu, and predictable taste. There is indeed a new
"Pizza Edge", but it's too thin and tastes like eating biscuits
with vegetables. Couldn't Pizza Hut add more choices of
vegetables and fruits in the salad bar? Usually, there are two
types of soup, of which one could be a vegetarian soup, as a
standard daily item. Even in the vegetarian pizza, they might
come up with different combinations and tastes. It's a matter of
doing a little bit of research on customers' needs and
preferences.

I hope in the current "e-everything" era, the poor "c-
customer" (the pun isn't related to the writer's name), is not
forgotten. "Exceeding expectations" also fits in well with the
"e-everything"!

When Pizza Hut opened its branch in India, I was one of the
first few visitors, and I observed that the salad bar over there
had plenty of choice with regard to fruits, nuts, fresh
vegetables, raisins, etc., with a unique Indian taste, and it was
refreshingly different.

The Pizza Hut is a large restaurant organization with a
network of branches worldwide and they ought to think "globally"
but act "nationally" -- like being a "Roman in Rome", not an
"American" in Indonesia. As they usually say, sell in the buyers'
language but buy in your own language.

Please let me take this opportunity to extend my greetings
and good wishes to all Indonesians and the Indian community here,
on the occasion of the visit to Indonesia of Mr. A.B. Vajpayee,
the most respected and beloved leader after the great Jawaharlal
Nehru.

D. CHANDRAMOULI

Jakarta