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The chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group who indicated the UK might have reached maximum pizza demand while broadening the company into chicken products has been removed after conflicts with its directors.

Executive Transition

Andrew Rennie is leaving after a brief tenure in the top role, and will be replaced on an interim basis by the company's chief operating officer, Frampton, while Domino's searches for a long-term chief.

The outgoing executive, who served at the company for more than two decades, had attempted to shift Britain's leading pizza food delivery firm towards fried chicken, commenting earlier this month there was not “massive growth” left in the British pizza industry. He said chicken was the most rapidly expanding protein in the international market.

Governance Friction

Sources suggest that there was tension between the CEO and the board over his focus and management style, although the company's official statement said he was departing “as a joint decision”.

New Product Introduction

In the autumn, the chain unveiled its Chick 'N' Dip product line – which Rennie referred to as a “significant new phase” for the group – and is trialling it in 210 outlets in the north-west of England and Northern Ireland.

While the company is still planning to expand it across its nearly 1,400 branches in 2026 as planned, it views chicken products as complementary to its core pizza business.

Leadership Comment

The Domino's chair, the company chair, stated: “Directors think that there are a series of prospects to boost expansion and profitability in our primary operations. We are prioritizing identifying the suitable leader to lead the careful implementation of that expansion plan.”

Market Challenges

Recently, Domino's, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said orders declined by 1.5% in the latest quarter. In the summer, it alerted that the food delivery sector had “grown more challenging” as it blamed economic uncertainty in the lead-up to the budget and higher payroll outlays for weaker-than-expected sales and a 15 percent decline in six-month income.

Rival chains are also struggling. Pizza Hut disclosed the closure of dozens of outlets a recently, after the firm behind its outlets faced financial collapse.

Wellness Initiatives

Adapting to market shifts towards balanced diets, the company has launched light products, such as its Thin & Crispy line of bakes below 400 kcal as well as plant-based and wheat-free pizzas. A family-sized pepperoni has 2,311 kcals. A big margherita has 2,171, while a small has 909 calories.

Interim Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with the company since the recent past, and previously worked for the gambling company a well-known operator. It is believed that she does not want to occupy the top job long-term.

She commented: “The company has a several active development and efficiency programs that we will be dedicated to executing at pace.”

She said these involved further work on the organization's procurement system and product development, and its customer retention initiative.

Domino's is also without a full-time chief financial officer until 16 March, when a new appointee comes aboard from the Irish cider and beer maker C&C Group. In the meantime, Snow is interim finance chief.