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The boss of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who indicated the United Kingdom might have reached pizza saturation while broadening the chain into fried chicken has been removed after tensions with its board.

Leadership Shake-Up

Andrew Rennie is departing after only 24 months in charge, and will be succeeded on an acting basis by the company's chief operating officer, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant looks for a permanent CEO.

The outgoing executive, who worked for the company for over 20 years, had sought to redirect Britain's leading pizza takeaway chain towards poultry-based products, remarking in a recent interview there was not “significant expansion” left in the pizza sector in the UK. He said poultry was the quickest rising protein in the globe.

Board Friction

Sources suggest that there was disagreement between Rennie and the board over his focus and management style, although Domino's release said he was stepping down “by mutual agreement”.

Recent Brand Introduction

In September, Domino's introduced its Chick 'N' Dip brand – which the former chief described as a “bold new chapter” for the group – and is testing it in select stores in the North West region and Northern Ireland.

While the business is still planning to expand it across its extensive network in 2026 as planned, it regards fried chicken as an addition to its main pizza offerings.

Board Statement

Ian Bull, the Domino's chairman, said: “Directors think that there are a number of opportunities to drive further growth and value creation in Domino's core business. We are prioritizing identifying the suitable leader to direct the disciplined execution of that expansion plan.”

Industry Challenges

Earlier this month, the pizza delivery giant, which has a substantial customer base in the UK and Ireland, said sales fell by one and a half percent in the Q3. In August, it cautioned that the quick-service industry had “grown more challenging” as it attributed economic uncertainty in the run-up to the budget and higher payroll outlays for disappointing revenue and a 15 percent decline in half-year profits.

Other pizza operators are also struggling. Another major chain revealed the closure of multiple locations a month ago, after the firm behind its British operations fell into administration.

Wellness Initiatives

Trying to keep up with market shifts towards healthier eating, the company has launched lower-calorie products, such as its thin-crust selection of pizzas below 400 kcal as well as meat-free and wheat-free pizzas. A large pepperoni pizza has over 2,300 kcal. A large cheese and tomato pizza has 2,171 kcal, while a individual has 909 calories.

Acting Management

Frampton has been with Domino's since 2021, and was formerly with the gambling company William Hill. It is understood that she prefers not to occupy the top job permanently.

She said: “The company has a number of ongoing expansion and performance initiatives that we will be dedicated to executing at a rapid rate.”

Frampton noted these comprised ongoing development on the organization's supply chain and product development, and its loyalty scheme.

Domino's is also lacking a long-term chief financial officer until March 16, when Andy Andrea joins from the beverage producer a well-known firm. In the meantime, Richard Snow is acting financial officer.