Local Pizza Hut has new owners

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
The local Pizza Hut has new owners after 82 locations owned by High Plains Pizza of Liberal, Kansas sold to Grand Mere Restaurant Group, owned by Mike Cherney and Victor Heutz. 
In a press release dated Jan. 29, High Plains Pizza announced that effective immediately, 82 of their 86 Pizza Hut locations across seven states (KS, OK, TX, WY, CO, UT and MT), including the Newcastle location, will change ownership. 
“It’s bittersweet to be finalizing a dream of our parents through this sale,” President Kent Colvin said. “Their dream was to build something that would help our family and at the same time provide opportunities to many other team mates. I believe we have done exactly that and could not be more proud of this accomplishment and the accomplishments of our team mates.” 
The new owners, Grand Mere Restaurant Group, while relatively new to the Pizza Hut brand, have an excellent track record of solid operations, according to the release. 
“They are developing a culture similar to that of High Plains Pizza which is rooted in valuing their people,” the release states. “The process of finding the “right” organization to pass our 57 year history over to was very tedious and time consuming but with Grand Mere Restaurant Group we have found that organization. We want to wish them the same success we have enjoyed as they move forward continuing to build the brand.” 
In the press release, the entire Colvin Family and the over 2,000 teammates around the country thanked the community for the amazing opportunity and continued support through their local venture. 
“We would like to thank all our loyal guests within every community in which we have operated, for your long term support of Pizza Hut because without you we would have not have ever reached the level of success we have attained,” Colvin said. “It has been an amazing experience to watch this brand grow into the largest pizza brand in the world.”