🔗 Share this article

The chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group who suggested the UK might have reached maximum pizza demand while expanding the franchise into chicken products has been ousted after disagreements with its board.

Leadership Transition

Rennie is exiting after a brief tenure in the top role, and will be replaced on an interim basis by the company's chief operating officer, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant seeks a new leader.

Rennie, who was with Domino's for more than two decades, had sought to pivot 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 most rapidly expanding menu item in the international market.

Board Tensions

It is understood that there was tension between Rennie and the board over his strategy and business vision, although the company's announcement said he was leaving “by mutual agreement”.

Recent Brand Introduction

In September, Domino's launched its Chick 'N' Dip brand – which the former chief described as a “major strategic shift” for the organization – and is trialling it in over 200 locations in the north-west of England and Northern Ireland.

While the business is still planning to expand it across its extensive network in 2026 as intended, it views fried chicken as a supplement for its core pizza business.

Leadership Comment

The Domino's chair, the Domino's chair, said: “Directors think that there are a number of opportunities to boost expansion and value creation in the main pizza segment. We are concentrating on identifying the ideal CEO to lead the careful implementation of that development approach.”

Market Challenges

In the latest update, Domino's, which has a substantial customer base in the British Isles, said transactions dipped by 1.5 percent in the Q3. In August, it cautioned that the food delivery sector had “grown more challenging” as it blamed economic uncertainty in the period before the government announcement and increasing labor expenses for disappointing revenue and a 15% drop in half-year profits.

Other pizza operators are also facing challenges. Pizza Hut disclosed the closure of 68 restaurants a last month, after the company behind its British operations entered insolvency.

Health Initiatives

Adapting to consumer trends towards better nutrition, Domino's has launched lower-calorie products, such as its Thin & Crispy range of pizzas below 400 kcals as well as vegan and gluten-free options. A family-sized pepperoni has over 2,300 kcal. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171 kcal, while a individual has 909 calories.

Interim Leadership

Frampton has been with Domino's since 2021, and had a background at the betting firm a well-known operator. It is believed that she prefers not to take on the top job long-term.

She commented: “We have a several ongoing expansion and efficiency programs that we will be focused on carrying out at speed.”

She added these included ongoing development on the company's supply chain and menu innovation, and its customer retention initiative.

Domino's is also lacking a long-term chief financial officer until March 16, when Andrea comes aboard from the Irish cider and beer maker C&C Group. For now, Snow acts as interim finance chief.