🔗 Share this article

A chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group who proposed the UK might have reached maximum pizza demand while broadening the franchise into poultry items has been replaced after tensions with its governing body.

Leadership Shake-Up

Rennie is leaving after only 24 months in leadership, and will be succeeded on an interim basis by the company's operations head, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant looks for a new leader.

The outgoing executive, who was with the company for a substantial period, had attempted to shift Britain's biggest pizza delivery company towards poultry-based products, remarking in a recent interview there was not “significant expansion” left in the pizza sector in the UK. He observed poultry was the most rapidly expanding protein in the international market.

Governance Disagreements

Sources suggest that there was disagreement between Rennie and the directors over his focus and management style, although Domino's release said he was departing “as a joint decision”.

New Product Launch

In the autumn, Domino's unveiled its chicken-focused product line – which the former chief called a “significant new phase” for the group – and is trialling it in over 200 locations in the north-west of England and the province.

While the firm is still planning to expand it across its extensive network in 2026 as intended, it views fried chicken as a supplement for its primary pizza operations.

Board Statement

Ian Bull, the Domino's chair, stated: “We are confident that there are a range of possibilities to enhance value and performance improvement in our primary operations. We are concentrating on finding the ideal CEO to direct the disciplined execution of that expansion plan.”

Market Challenges

In the latest update, Domino's, which has 13 million customers in the UK and Ireland, said transactions fell by 1.5% in the Q3. In the summer, it alerted that the food delivery sector had “intensified” as it blamed reduced spending in the period before the government announcement and higher payroll outlays for weaker-than-expected sales and a 15% drop in six-month income.

Rival chains are also experiencing difficulties. Pizza Hut disclosed the closure of 68 restaurants a month ago, after the company behind its outlets faced financial collapse.

Health Efforts

Trying to keep up with customer preferences towards balanced diets, Domino's has rolled out light items, such as its Thin & Crispy range of bakes below 400 kcal as well as plant-based and wheat-free options. A large pepperoni pizza has over 2,300 kcal. A family cheese pizza has 2,171 kcal, while a personal has 909 calories.

Interim Management

Nicola Frampton has been with Domino's since the recent past, and had a background at the betting firm a well-known operator. It is understood that she does not want to assume the CEO position permanently.

She said: “We have a several active expansion and efficiency programs that we will be concentrating on executing at a rapid rate.”

She said these comprised ongoing development on the company's procurement system and new item creation, and its rewards program.

Domino's is also lacking a long-term chief financial officer until March 16, when Andy Andrea starts from the beverage producer C&C Group. Until then, Richard Snow is acting financial officer.