🔗 Share this article

A head of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who suggested the United Kingdom might have reached peak pizza while diversifying the company into fried chicken has been removed after tensions with its directors.

Executive Shake-Up

Rennie is leaving after just two years in leadership, and will be succeeded on an temporary basis by the organization's operations head, Frampton, while the pizza giant searches for a new leader.

Rennie, who worked for the company for more than two decades, had sought to redirect the UK's biggest pizza food delivery firm towards fried chicken, remarking recently there was not “huge potential” left in the British pizza industry. He said chicken was the most rapidly expanding menu item in the world.

Board Disagreements

Sources suggest that there was tension between Rennie and the board over his strategy and direction, although the company's announcement said he was departing “as a joint decision”.

New Product Introduction

In September, the chain unveiled its poultry brand – which Rennie described as a “bold new chapter” for the company – and is testing it in 210 outlets in the North West region and Northern Ireland.

While the firm is still intending to launch it across its almost 1,400 stores in the coming year as scheduled, it views chicken products as complementary to its core pizza business.

Board Comment

Bull, the Domino's chairman, stated: “Directors think that there are a number of opportunities to drive further growth and profitability in the main pizza segment. We are focused on selecting the right chief executive to direct the careful implementation of that expansion plan.”

Market Difficulties

Earlier this month, the pizza delivery giant, which has a substantial customer base in the British Isles, said sales dipped by 1.5 percent in the latest quarter. In August, it warned that the takeaway market had “intensified” as it blamed weaker consumer confidence in the period before the budget and increasing labor expenses for disappointing revenue and a 15 percent decline in half-year profits.

Competitors are also struggling. Another major chain announced the closing of multiple locations a recently, after the firm behind its UK venues faced financial collapse.

Wellness Efforts

Trying to keep up with customer preferences towards healthier eating, the company has rolled out light options, such as its light base line of bakes below 400 kcals as well as meat-free and wheat-free pizzas. A large pepperoni pizza has 2,311 kcals. A big margherita has 2,171 kcal, while a personal has 909 calories.

Interim Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with the company since 2021, and previously worked for the betting firm William Hill. It is thought that she prefers not to occupy the top job permanently.

Frampton stated: “Our team has a number of active expansion and efficiency programs that we will be concentrating on executing at a rapid rate.”

She said these comprised ongoing development on the organization's logistics network and new item creation, and its loyalty scheme.

The pizza chain is also lacking a permanent chief financial officer until the spring, when Andy Andrea joins from the beverage producer C&C Group. In the meantime, Richard Snow acts as temporary CFO.