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The head of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who proposed the United Kingdom might have reached pizza saturation while expanding the franchise into poultry items has been ousted after conflicts with its board.

Leadership Shake-Up

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

The outgoing executive, who worked for Domino's for more than two decades, had aimed to redirect the UK's leading pizza food delivery firm towards poultry-based products, stating recently there was not “massive growth” left in the UK's pizza market. He said poultry was the quickest rising protein in the international market.

Board Friction

It is understood that there was friction between Rennie and the governance team over his approach and business vision, although Domino's announcement said he was leaving “through mutual consent”.

Recent Brand Introduction

In September, the chain introduced its chicken-focused product line – which Rennie described as a “major strategic shift” for the company – and is testing it in select stores in the North West region and Northern Ireland.

While the firm is still intending to launch it across its extensive network in 2026 as planned, it considers chicken products as complementary to its core pizza business.

Leadership Statement

Bull, the Domino's chair, said: “We are confident that there are a range of possibilities to drive further growth and profitability in the main pizza segment. We are concentrating on selecting the ideal CEO to lead the careful implementation of that development approach.”

Industry Challenges

Recently, the pizza delivery giant, which has millions of users in the British Isles, said transactions declined by 1.5% in the latest quarter. In the summer, it alerted that the takeaway market had “grown more challenging” as it blamed economic uncertainty in the run-up to the government announcement and rising wage costs for disappointing revenue and a 15% drop in interim earnings.

Competitors are also facing challenges. Another major chain revealed the shutting of dozens of outlets a recently, after the firm behind its outlets fell into administration.

Health Efforts

Trying to keep up with consumer trends towards healthier eating, the company has launched reduced-calorie products, such as its thin-crust range of bakes below 400 kcals as well as meat-free and wheat-free options. A big pepperoni bake has 2,311 kcals. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171, while a personal has 909 calories.

Acting Management

Frampton has been with the company since the recent past, and previously worked for the betting firm a well-known operator. It is understood that she prefers not to assume the CEO position long-term.

She commented: “Our team has a number of current development and performance initiatives that we will be focused on implementing at pace.”

She said these included further work on the organization's logistics network and new item creation, and its rewards program.

Domino's is also in need of a full-time finance director until March 16, when a new appointee comes aboard from the Irish cider and beer maker a well-known firm. Until then, Richard Snow is acting financial officer.