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A head of Domino's Pizza Group who indicated the UK might have reached pizza saturation while broadening the chain into fried chicken has been replaced after conflicts with its governing body.

Executive Shake-Up

Rennie is exiting after a brief tenure in charge, and will be succeeded on an acting basis by the company's operations head, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant searches for a permanent CEO.

Rennie, who worked for Domino's for a substantial period, had attempted to redirect the UK's biggest pizza takeaway chain towards chicken offerings, remarking in a recent interview there was not “huge potential” left in the British pizza industry. He said poultry was the most rapidly expanding food category in the globe.

Governance Friction

Sources suggest that there was disagreement between Rennie and the directors over his strategy and business vision, although Domino's official statement said he was leaving “through mutual consent”.

Recent Brand Introduction

In September, Domino's launched its poultry offering – which Rennie called a “bold new chapter” for the group – and is trialling it in over 200 locations in the north-west of England and the province.

While the business is still intending to launch it across its almost 1,400 stores next year as intended, it considers fried chicken as complementary to its primary pizza operations.

Board Statement

The Domino's chair, the Domino's chairman, stated: “We are confident that there are a range of possibilities to enhance value and profitability in Domino's core business. We are focused on finding the suitable leader to direct the systematic rollout of that expansion plan.”

Industry Difficulties

In the latest update, the pizza delivery giant, which has millions of users in the UK and Ireland, said transactions dipped by 1.5% in the Q3. In the summer, it warned that the quick-service industry had “intensified” as it attributed weaker consumer confidence in the run-up to the budget and rising wage costs for weaker-than-expected sales and a 15 percent decline in six-month income.

Other pizza operators are also facing challenges. Pizza Hut revealed the closure of multiple locations a recently, after the business behind its British operations fell into administration.

Health Efforts

Responding to customer preferences towards healthier eating, the company has launched lower-calorie products, such as its thin-crust range of bakes below 400 kcals as well as meat-free and wheat-free options. A family-sized pepperoni has over 2,300 kcal. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171, while a individual has 909 calories.

Interim Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with the company since 2021, and had a background at the betting firm William Hill. It is understood that she does not want to take on the top job on a full-time basis.

She commented: “The company has a several active expansion and efficiency programs that we will be dedicated to carrying out at speed.”

She said these comprised additional efforts on the company's logistics network and menu innovation, and its rewards program.

The pizza chain is also without a permanent finance director until March 16, when Andrea comes aboard from the beverage producer a well-known firm. For now, Snow is temporary CFO.