Pizza Hut Franchisee Sues Over AI Delivery System Rollout

A franchisee operating more than 100 Pizza Hut restaurants filed a lawsuit this month alleging that the company's mandatory AI-based delivery system caused $100 million in losses. Chaac Pizza Northeast, which runs locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., said more than 90 percent of deliveries arrived within 30 minutes before the system was introduced.

The lawsuit claims the rollout created slower delivery times, colder product and reduced customer satisfaction.

The suit states that DoorDash drivers could see when pizzas came out of the oven after the system launched. Drivers then waited up to 15 minutes for multiple orders, according to the complaint. Chaac Pizza Northeast reported double-digit sales growth before the change.

Year-over-year sales growth in New York City shifted from a positive 10.19 percent to a negative 9.78 percent after implementation.

A Pizza Hut spokesperson told outlets that the company is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond through appropriate legal channels. The Independent has contacted Yum! Brands, Chaac Pizza Northeast and DoorDash for comment. The filing follows Yum! Brands' February announcement that it plans to close 250 underperforming U.S. restaurants in the first half of 2026.