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A head of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who suggested the United Kingdom might have reached pizza saturation while expanding the chain into chicken products has been removed after tensions with its board.

Executive Transition

The former CEO is departing after just two years in charge, and will be replaced on an temporary basis by the organization's chief operating officer, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant seeks a permanent CEO.

Rennie, who worked for Domino's for a substantial period, had aimed to redirect Britain's leading pizza delivery company towards fried chicken, commenting in a recent interview there was not “huge potential” left in the UK's pizza market. He observed poultry was the quickest rising protein in the globe.

Governance Disagreements

Sources suggest that there was friction between the CEO and the directors over his approach and direction, although the company's announcement said he was stepping down “as a joint decision”.

New Product Launch

In the autumn, Domino's launched its poultry offering – which Rennie described as a “significant new phase” for the company – and is testing it in 210 outlets in the North West region and Northern Ireland.

While the company is still planning to expand it across its extensive network next year as intended, it views chicken products as a supplement for its primary pizza operations.

Board Comment

Ian Bull, the Domino's chair, commented: “The board believes that there are a range of possibilities to boost expansion and performance improvement in Domino's core business. We are concentrating on identifying the ideal CEO to oversee the disciplined execution of that expansion plan.”

Industry Difficulties

Recently, Domino's, which has a substantial customer base in the British Isles, said sales fell by 1.5% in the Q3. In August, it cautioned that the takeaway market had “grown more challenging” as it blamed weaker consumer confidence in the period before the government announcement and increasing labor expenses for disappointing revenue and a 15 percent decline in interim earnings.

Other pizza operators are also facing challenges. Pizza Hut disclosed the closure of multiple locations a last month, after the company behind its British operations fell into administration.

Wellness Initiatives

Adapting to customer preferences towards balanced diets, the company has rolled out lower-calorie options, such as its light base range of bakes below 400 kcal as well as meat-free and allergy-friendly options. A family-sized pepperoni has 2,311 kcals. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171 kcal, while a individual has under 1,000 calories.

Acting Management

Frampton has been with the company since 2021, and previously worked for the gaming group a well-known operator. It is thought that she prefers not to take on the chief executive role on a full-time basis.

She commented: “Our team has a multiple ongoing growth and efficiency programs that we will be focused on carrying out at pace.”

She added these involved additional efforts on the company's logistics network and product development, and its rewards program.

The pizza chain is also in need of a long-term CFO until 16 March, when Andy Andrea starts from the drinks company a well-known firm. For now, Richard Snow serves as temporary CFO.