In honor of ‘International Week of Deaf People 2024,’ Pizza Hut, in collaboration with Americana Restaurants, proudly launched a first-of-its-kind restaurant in Saudi Arabia, operated by talents with hearing and speech challenges.
Located in Andalusian Plaza in Al Nahda, the outlet was inaugurated on Sunday, September 29, 2024.
This initiative is part of Pizza Hut’s “Opportunity4All” program under the Brand’s mission to offer ‘an equal slice for everyone’, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s vision for 2030 to create a pathway for all individuals to reach their full potential.
Rooted in the belief that everyone deserves an equal opportunity in life, the program demonstrates Pizza Hut’s ongoing commitment to promote inclusivity and empowerment, with this unique restaurant marking the beginning of a larger plan to expand across the Kingdom and the Middle East.
To mark this milestone, Pizza Hut, hosted an event featuring eminent dignitaries from Sa3ee for Rehabilitation & Employment for Disabilities, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the key leadership of Yum! Brands and Americana Restaurants.
During this gathering, they spoke about the importance of the “Opportunity4All” program highlighting the vital role of inclusivity in creating a diverse workforce.
The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the official opening of the restaurant attended by the special talent from the store, their parents and caregivers, and key VIPs, further emphasizing the strong support from various sectors across the Kingdom. The session was interpreted in sign language, a heartfelt testament to the program’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity.
The partnership with Sa3ee, a local NGO that was instrumental in supporting the hiring and onboarding of the specially-abled exceptional team members. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has endorsed the initiative, recognizing its importance towards nation building and achieving the Saudi Vision 2030.
Americana’s deep-rooted presence and understanding of local markets were crucial in driving the real impact of the ‘Opportunity4All’ initiative. Americana also upgraded its store infrastructure, training materials, and processes to ensure accessibility for individuals with special talents.
“We at Americana feel deeply about our purpose of ‘Building Communities Around the Joy of Food.’ We operate six stores in Egypt entirely run by specially-abled team members, and it’s heartening to have extended that to Saudi today. We are committed to grow Americana’s community of People of Determination across our markets.” commented Amarpal Sandhu, CEO Americana Restaurants.
Marzouk Bin Amria, Chairman of Sa3ee for Rehabilitation & Employment for Disabilities added, “This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration between businesses and NGOs in driving meaningful change for individuals with disabilities. By partnering with Pizza Hut and Americana Restaurants, we are not only providing valuable employment opportunities but also setting a precedent for inclusivity in the workplace.”
The Riyadh restaurant is just the beginning, Pizza Hut and Americana Restaurants have ambitious plans to extend this program across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, creating more opportunities for individuals with disabilities and setting a precedent for inclusivity in the region.
The store staff with hearing and speech impairments are supported by senior team members, all of whom have undergone sign language training as part of the partnership with Sa3ee.
The newly opened Pizza Hut restaurant is located in Andalusian Plaza, 4034 Salman Al Farsi, Al Nahda, Riyadh and a warm welcome is extended to all, to support the Kingdom’s Sons and Daughters by allowing them the opportunity of service at the restaurant.
