Peak Pizza? Domino's Pizza CEO Exits Following Shift Into Fried Chicken.

The head of Domino's Pizza Group who indicated the UK might have reached peak pizza while expanding the chain into fried chicken has been ousted after tensions with its governing body.

Leadership Shake-Up

Rennie is departing after just two years in leadership, and will be replaced on an acting basis by the organization's chief operating officer, Frampton, while Domino's looks for a permanent CEO.

The outgoing executive, who was with the company for more than two decades, had aimed to pivot the UK's leading pizza takeaway chain towards poultry-based products, remarking in a recent interview there was not “massive growth” left in the British pizza industry. He observed chicken was the fastest-growing protein in the globe.

Governance Friction

Reports indicate that there was disagreement between the CEO and the governance team over his strategy and direction, although Domino's release said he was departing “by mutual agreement”.

Recent Brand Launch

In the autumn, the chain launched its poultry brand – which Rennie called a “significant new phase” for the company – and is piloting it in over 200 locations in the North West region and the province.

While the company is still going to roll it out across its nearly 1,400 branches in the coming year as scheduled, it views chicken products as complementary to its core pizza business.

Leadership Comment

Bull, the Domino's chairman, commented: “We are confident that there are a series of prospects to drive further growth and profitability in our primary operations. We are concentrating on selecting the suitable leader to oversee the disciplined execution of that growth strategy.”

Industry Difficulties

In the latest update, Domino's, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said orders fell by 1.5 percent in the latest quarter. In August, it alerted that the food delivery sector had “grown more challenging” as it blamed reduced spending in the period before the budget and rising wage costs for disappointing revenue and a 15% drop in six-month income.

Rival chains are also struggling. Another major chain revealed the closure of multiple locations a last month, after the firm behind its outlets fell into administration.

Wellness Efforts

Adapting to consumer trends towards better nutrition, the company has launched light options, such as its light base range of bakes below 400 calories as well as plant-based and gluten-free options. A large pepperoni pizza has 2,311 kcals. A big margherita has over 2,100, while a small has 909 kcal.

Interim Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with the company since 2021, and had a background at the gambling company William Hill. It is thought that she prefers not to take on the chief executive role on a full-time basis.

She said: “We have a number of current development and performance initiatives that we will be focused on executing at pace.”

She said these comprised ongoing development on the organization's logistics network and menu innovation, and its rewards program.

Domino's is also without a full-time finance director until 16 March, when Andy Andrea starts from the Irish cider and beer maker C&C Group. Until then, Snow is interim finance chief.