🔗 Share this article

The boss of Domino's Pizza Group who proposed the UK might have reached maximum pizza demand while broadening the chain into chicken products has been removed after tensions with its directors.

Leadership Transition

Rennie is departing after only 24 months in charge, and will be succeeded on an interim basis by the organization's chief operating officer, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant looks for a new leader.

Rennie, who served at Domino's for over 20 years, had sought to redirect Britain's largest pizza takeaway chain towards poultry-based products, remarking recently there was not “huge potential” left in the pizza sector in the UK. He observed chicken was the fastest-growing food category in the world.

Board Friction

Sources suggest that there was disagreement between the CEO and the board over his approach and direction, although the company's official statement said he was leaving “through mutual consent”.

Recent Product Launch

In the autumn, Domino's introduced its Chick 'N' Dip product line – which the former chief described as a “significant new phase” for the organization – and is trialling it in select stores in the north-west of England and Northern Ireland.

While the firm is still planning to expand it across its nearly 1,400 branches in 2026 as scheduled, it views chicken products as an addition to its core pizza business.

Board Comment

The Domino's chair, the company chair, said: “The board believes that there are a number of opportunities to enhance value and profitability in the main pizza segment. We are focused on finding the ideal CEO to direct the careful implementation of that development approach.”

Market Challenges

Earlier this month, the pizza delivery giant, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said sales dipped by one and a half percent in the Q3. In the summer, it alerted that the food delivery sector had “grown more challenging” as it attributed reduced spending in the period before the government announcement and increasing labor expenses for below-target performance and a 15% drop in interim earnings.

Competitors are also facing challenges. Another major chain revealed the shutting of dozens of outlets a month ago, after the business behind its UK venues fell into administration.

Health Efforts

Trying to keep up with customer preferences towards healthier eating, the company has launched reduced-calorie options, such as its Thin & Crispy line of bakes below 400 calories as well as vegan and wheat-free pizzas. A big pepperoni bake has 2,311 calories. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171 kcal, while a individual has 909 calories.

Interim Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with the company since the recent past, and had a background at the betting firm William Hill. It is believed that she does not want to assume the chief executive role long-term.

She commented: “We have a number of ongoing expansion and performance initiatives that we will be focused on carrying out at speed.”

Frampton noted these included additional efforts on the company's logistics network and product development, and its loyalty scheme.

Domino's is also lacking a permanent finance director until 16 March, when Andy Andrea starts from the drinks company C&C Group. Until then, Richard Snow serves as interim finance chief.