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The chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group who indicated the UK might have reached maximum pizza demand while diversifying the chain into fried chicken has been replaced after conflicts with its governing body.

Leadership Transition

The former CEO is exiting after only 24 months in the top role, and will be replaced on an acting basis by the company's chief operating officer, Frampton, while the pizza giant searches for a new leader.

The outgoing executive, who worked for the company for more than two decades, had sought to shift Britain's biggest pizza delivery company towards fried chicken, commenting recently there was not “huge potential” left in the UK's pizza market. He noted chicken was the most rapidly expanding food category in the world.

Governance Tensions

Sources suggest that there was tension between the CEO and the governance team over his focus and management style, although the company's announcement said he was departing “through mutual consent”.

Recent Product Launch

In September, the chain launched its poultry offering – which the former chief called a “bold new chapter” for the company – and is trialling it in select stores in the north-west of England and the province.

While the firm is still planning to expand it across its almost 1,400 stores in the coming year as planned, it considers fried chicken as a supplement for its primary pizza operations.

Leadership Statement

Ian Bull, the Domino's chair, commented: “The board believes that there are a series of prospects to enhance value and profitability in the main pizza segment. We are prioritizing identifying the suitable leader to lead the disciplined execution of that development approach.”

Market Difficulties

Recently, the pizza delivery giant, which has a substantial customer base in the British Isles, said sales dipped by 1.5% in the latest quarter. In August, it alerted that the quick-service industry had “become tougher” as it blamed weaker consumer confidence in the period before the budget and higher payroll outlays for below-target performance and a significant fall in half-year profits.

Rival chains are also experiencing difficulties. Pizza Hut revealed the closure of dozens of outlets a recently, after the company behind its outlets entered insolvency.

Health Initiatives

Responding to customer preferences towards balanced diets, the company has introduced light options, such as its thin-crust selection of bakes below 400 kcal as well as vegan and gluten-free options. A large pepperoni pizza has 2,311 calories. A large cheese and tomato pizza has over 2,100, while a individual has 909 kcal.

Acting Leadership

Nicola Frampton has been with the company since 2021, and was formerly with the gambling company William Hill. It is understood that she prefers not to take on the chief executive role long-term.

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

She added these included additional efforts on the company's logistics network and new item creation, and its customer retention initiative.

The pizza chain is also lacking a full-time finance director until March 16, when Andy Andrea starts from the drinks company C&C Group. In the meantime, Snow acts as acting financial officer.