Peak Pizza? Domino's Pizza Chief Executive Steps Down After Move Into Chicken.

A boss of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who proposed the UK might have hit pizza saturation while broadening the chain into fried chicken has been replaced after conflicts with its board.

Leadership Change

Andrew Rennie is departing after just two years in the top role, and will be replaced on an acting basis by the company's chief operating officer, Frampton, while the pizza giant seeks a permanent CEO.

Rennie, who worked for the company for a substantial period, had sought to redirect the UK's biggest pizza takeaway chain towards fried chicken, commenting earlier this month there was not “massive growth” left in the UK's pizza market. He observed poultry was the quickest rising protein in the globe.

Board Disagreements

Sources suggest that there was disagreement between the CEO and the governance team over his strategy and business vision, although Domino's official statement said he was stepping down “through mutual consent”.

New Brand Introduction

In September, Domino's introduced its Chick 'N' Dip product line – which the former chief called a “significant new phase” for the company – and is piloting it in select stores in the North West region and the province.

While the company is still planning to expand it across its nearly 1,400 branches next year as scheduled, it considers fried chicken as a supplement for its primary pizza operations.

Board Comment

The Domino's chair, the Domino's chair, commented: “We are confident that there are a series of prospects to enhance value and value creation in Domino's core business. We are prioritizing finding the right chief executive to oversee the careful implementation of that expansion plan.”

Industry Difficulties

Earlier this month, the pizza delivery giant, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said sales dipped by 1.5% in the latest quarter. In the summer, it cautioned that the quick-service industry had “grown more challenging” as it blamed economic uncertainty in the period before the budget and increasing labor expenses for disappointing revenue and a 15% drop in interim earnings.

Competitors are also struggling. Another major chain disclosed the closing of multiple locations a last month, after the company behind its British operations entered insolvency.

Wellness Initiatives

Trying to keep up with customer preferences towards better nutrition, the company has introduced reduced-calorie options, such as its Thin & Crispy range of bakes below 400 calories as well as plant-based and allergy-friendly options. A big pepperoni bake has 2,311 kcals. A family cheese pizza has 2,171, while a individual has 909 kcal.

Acting Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with Domino's since the recent past, and was formerly with the betting firm William Hill. It is thought that she is not seeking to take on the CEO position long-term.

She commented: “The company has a multiple current growth and performance initiatives that we will be concentrating on implementing at pace.”

Frampton noted these involved further work on the company's supply chain and new item creation, and its rewards program.

The pizza chain is also without a long-term CFO until the spring, when Andy Andrea starts from the beverage producer a well-known firm. In the meantime, Richard Snow acts as temporary CFO.