Pizza Hut's attempt to be gourmet flopped

Pizza Hut's huge makeover failed to drive sales.

Sales fell 3.5% during the fourth quarter, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Pizza Hut's sales in 2014 decreased by 3.7%.

In November, Pizza Hut called the millennial-focused "Flavors of Now" campaign the biggest makeover in company history.

The brand reached out to trendy food truck operators in New York for help redesigning the menu, according to Digiday.

After considering what millennials would want, Pizza Hut added new crusts in flavors like Honey Sriracha and Ginger Boom Boom.

It also added gourmet touches like balsamic drizzles and cherry peppers.

While Pizza Hut's sales have lagged, competitor Domino's executed an epic turnaround.

Sales at Domino's have soared since the company came out with a new pizza recipe in 2009. Having a better core product was necessary for business to turn around.

Domino's has also innovated its sandwiches, pastas, and side dishes.

The "specialty chicken," strips topped with cheese and sauces increasingly ordered alongside pizzas, driving up the average ticket sale at Domino's, CEO Patrick Doyle said.