🔗 Share this article

The chief executive of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who proposed the United Kingdom might have hit maximum pizza demand while expanding the company into poultry items has been replaced after conflicts with its governing body.

Leadership Transition

Andrew Rennie is exiting after just two years in charge, and will be replaced on an acting basis by the organization's operations head, Nicola Frampton, while Domino's seeks a new leader.

Rennie, who worked for the company for over 20 years, had sought to redirect the UK's biggest pizza takeaway chain towards chicken offerings, remarking recently there was not “huge potential” left in the UK's pizza market. He observed poultry was the fastest-growing protein in the globe.

Governance Friction

Sources suggest that there was friction between Rennie and the governance team over his approach and management style, although the company's announcement said he was leaving “through mutual consent”.

Recent Product Introduction

In September, Domino's introduced its poultry product line – which Rennie called a “significant new phase” for the organization – and is trialling it in select stores in the north-west of England and the province.

While the firm is still going to roll it out across its extensive network in the coming year as planned, it views chicken products as a supplement for its primary pizza operations.

Leadership Statement

Ian Bull, the Domino's chair, commented: “We are confident that there are a number of opportunities to boost expansion and value creation in Domino's core business. We are prioritizing selecting the suitable leader to lead the systematic rollout of that development approach.”

Market Difficulties

Recently, the pizza delivery giant, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said transactions dipped by one and a half percent in the third quarter. In the summer, it alerted that the quick-service industry had “grown more challenging” as it attributed reduced spending in the period before the budget and rising wage costs for weaker-than-expected sales and a significant fall in six-month income.

Competitors are also experiencing difficulties. Pizza Hut disclosed the shutting of 68 restaurants a recently, after the business behind its UK venues faced financial collapse.

Health Initiatives

Responding to customer preferences towards balanced diets, Domino's has introduced light options, such as its light base selection of bakes below 400 kcals as well as vegan and allergy-friendly pizzas. A large pepperoni pizza has 2,311 kcals. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171, while a personal has 909 kcal.

Interim Management

Frampton has been with the company since 2021, and previously worked for the gaming group William Hill. It is understood that she is not seeking to occupy the chief executive role permanently.

She commented: “Our team has a multiple current expansion and operational projects that we will be dedicated to executing at a rapid rate.”

Frampton noted these included further work on the company's supply chain and product development, and its loyalty scheme.

Domino's is also without a full-time finance director until the spring, when Andrea starts from the Irish cider and beer maker a well-known firm. For now, Richard Snow serves as interim finance chief.