Pizza Hut and Americana Restaurants have inaugurated Bahrain’s first restaurant staffed entirely by team members with hearing and speech impairments. 

This initiative is part of the country's Opportunity4All programme, which seeks to foster empowering workplaces for those described as "People of Determination" - a term used in Bahrain to refer to individuals with disabilities. The country is committed to ensuring their inclusion and equal opportunities through initiatives and programmes.

Pizza Hut MEA [Middle East and Africa] people and culture director Ayanda Moropane stated: “Pizza Hut is a people-first company that strives to make a positive impact in the communities we serve, and we are proud to support a program that enables employability for People of Determination.”

The employees at the new establishment have received extensive training in food preparation, customer service and hospitality.

They are supported by managers who possess sign language skills and utilise alternative communication tools to ensure smooth operations and effective day-to-day interactions with customers.

Americana Restaurants has introduced the Sign & Smile card, an interactive tool that includes key sign language phrases.

This development aligns with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Vision 2030 and National Disability Strategy, which focus on promoting economic inclusion, equal opportunity, and the active participation of People of Determination in society.

Sheldon Williams, general manager of Pizza Hut at Americana Restaurants, stated: “This is more than a store opening - it’s a bold step toward transforming how our industry thinks about creating opportunities for all.

“We’re not just offering jobs; we’re building careers and communities around the joy of food where everyone has a place.”