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The head of Domino's Pizza Group who suggested the UK might have hit pizza saturation while expanding the company into poultry items has been removed after conflicts with its governing body.

Leadership Transition

Andrew Rennie is exiting after just two years in leadership, and will be succeeded on an acting basis by the company's operations head, Nicola Frampton, while Domino's seeks a long-term chief.

The outgoing executive, who was with the company for more than two decades, had aimed to shift the UK's largest pizza delivery company towards poultry-based products, commenting in a recent interview there was not “significant expansion” left in the British pizza industry. He said poultry was the quickest rising protein in the globe.

Board Tensions

Reports indicate that there was tension between the CEO and the governance team over his approach and management style, although Domino's release said he was stepping down “as a joint decision”.

New Product Launch

In the autumn, Domino's unveiled its poultry brand – which Rennie described as a “significant new phase” for the company – and is piloting it in 210 outlets in the north-west of England and the province.

While the company is still planning to expand it across its nearly 1,400 branches next year as intended, it considers chicken products as an addition to 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 performance improvement in Domino's core business. We are prioritizing identifying the suitable leader to oversee the careful implementation of that growth strategy.”

Market Challenges

Recently, Domino's, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said sales declined by one and a half percent in the Q3. In August, it cautioned that the food delivery sector had “grown more challenging” as it attributed weaker consumer confidence in the lead-up to the budget and rising wage costs for disappointing revenue and a 15 percent decline in six-month income.

Competitors are also struggling. Another major chain revealed the closing of 68 restaurants a recently, after the firm behind its UK venues fell into administration.

Wellness Efforts

Trying to keep up with market shifts towards healthier eating, the company has rolled out light items, such as its thin-crust line of pizzas below 400 kcal as well as meat-free and gluten-free pizzas. A big pepperoni bake has 2,311 calories. A large cheese and tomato pizza has over 2,100, while a small has 909 calories.

Interim Management

The interim chief has been with the company since 2021, and was formerly with the gaming group a well-known operator. It is believed that she is not seeking to take on the CEO position permanently.

Frampton stated: “The company has a several active growth and performance initiatives that we will be concentrating on implementing at a rapid rate.”

She added these comprised ongoing development on the company's supply chain and new item creation, and its rewards program.

Domino's is also lacking a permanent CFO until 16 March, when Andy Andrea starts from the Irish cider and beer maker a well-known firm. For now, Snow is temporary CFO.