Peak Pizza? Domino's Pizza CEO Exits After Move Into Chicken.

A chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group who proposed the United Kingdom might have reached peak pizza while diversifying the company into fried chicken has been removed after conflicts with its board.

Leadership Change

Andrew Rennie is leaving after a brief tenure in charge, and will be succeeded on an acting basis by the organization's operations head, Frampton, while the pizza giant seeks a permanent CEO.

Rennie, who was with the company for more than two decades, had aimed to shift the UK's leading pizza delivery company towards poultry-based products, stating earlier this month there was not “massive growth” left in the UK's pizza market. He observed poultry was the fastest-growing protein in the globe.

Board Disagreements

It is understood that there was tension between the CEO and the governance team over his strategy and business vision, although the company's release said he was departing “by mutual agreement”.

New Brand Introduction

In the autumn, the chain launched its Chick 'N' Dip offering – which the former chief referred to as a “bold new chapter” for the organization – and is piloting it in over 200 locations in the North West region and Northern Ireland.

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

Board Statement

The Domino's chair, the Domino's chairman, said: “The board believes that there are a range of possibilities to boost expansion and performance improvement in Domino's core business. We are prioritizing selecting the right chief executive to oversee the careful implementation of that expansion plan.”

Industry Challenges

Recently, the pizza delivery giant, which has a substantial customer base in the British Isles, said sales declined by one and a half percent in the Q3. In the summer, it cautioned that the takeaway market had “become tougher” as it blamed reduced spending in the period before the government announcement and increasing labor expenses for below-target performance and a 15 percent decline in six-month income.

Rival chains are also struggling. Another major chain revealed the closing of 68 restaurants a month ago, after the firm behind its British operations faced financial collapse.

Wellness Efforts

Trying to keep up with consumer trends towards healthier eating, the company has launched light options, such as its Thin & Crispy line of bakes below 400 kcals as well as vegan and wheat-free options. A family-sized pepperoni has 2,311 calories. A family cheese pizza has 2,171 kcal, while a small has under 1,000 calories.

Interim Leadership

The interim chief has been with Domino's since the recent past, and was formerly with the gambling company William Hill. It is understood that she does not want to occupy the CEO position permanently.

She said: “Our team has a multiple ongoing growth and performance initiatives that we will be dedicated to executing at pace.”

She added these included further work on the organization's supply chain and product development, and its rewards program.

The pizza chain is also without a full-time chief financial officer until the spring, when Andrea comes aboard from the Irish cider and beer maker C&C Group. Until then, Snow serves as temporary CFO.