The pitch is being overseen by Pizza Hut director of retail marketing Simon Wallis, who is considering a number of agencies, including incumbent Minerva.
Minerva secured Pizza Hut's point-of-sale business, which includes window displays, menus and placemats, in March 2000. The agency, formerly known as AMV Advance, was handed responsibility for all Pizza Hut promotions and tactical assignments, including a strategy for targeting children. Minerva also handles all local marketing for its outlets.
Last month, Pizza Hut extended its television marketing strategy by snaring the high-profile sponsorship of 'The Simpsons' following the series' move from BBC Two to Channel 4. The value of the 12-month deal has not been revealed, but it is thought to be substantial. Channel 4 reportedly paid $1m (£540,000) an episode for the terrestrial rights.
Pizza Hut is the second pizza brand to tie up with 'The Simpsons'; Domino's sponsors the show on Sky One.
The chain also has a £1.7m TV campaign breaking on November 29, which will position its restaurants as the place for "family therapy".
Pizza Hut is jointly owned by leisure giant Whitbread and US restaurants business Yum! Brands. In September it was reported that Whitbread was considering disposing of its high-street restaurants, including Pizza Hut. In September, it said its high-street brands had "broadly maintained their position", with like-for-like sales growth of 3%, compared with 3.1% in the past financial year.
Last month, Pizza Hut became the latest food brand to add a healthy option to its menu with a line of lower-fat pizzas branded Hi-Light.
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