Domino’s Group CEO steps down as company expands menu beyond pizza

Domino’s Pizza Group said on Tuesday that Andrew Rennie has stepped down as chief executive and that Nicola Frampton, the company’s chief operating officer, will serve as interim chief executive while a search for a permanent successor gets underway. The announcement accompanies a strategic shift away from a sole focus on pizza toward new categories including chicken and products marketed as healthier options.

The retailer framed the change as part of a broader effort to reignite growth after a period of soft trading. Domino’s has signaled mounting pressure on demand and rising input costs linked to tariff related headwinds, and the company warned that orders look set to be weaker into 2026. Earlier in the autumn the group appointed a new finance chief, a personnel change that further underlines an active management reshuffle ahead of a refreshed strategy.

Domino’s also said it has postponed its December capital markets day as it conducts a review of capital allocation priorities. Suspending a scheduled investor event typically signals a rethink of how management plans to deploy cash, whether on reinvestment in the business, dividends, share buybacks, or potential acquisition opportunities. Investors will watch the outcome of that review closely for signs about the pace and scale of spending on new product development and marketing for the broader menu.

The pivot raises immediate operational questions. Expanding into chicken and healthier items will require new supply chains, menu testing and marketing investment to persuade existing customers to trade up or cross shop. That comes at a time when consumer spending among UK households has been cautious, leaving little margin for missteps. The tariff related cost pressures mentioned by the company can squeeze gross margins if inflationary input costs cannot be passed on to price sensitive consumers.

For franchisees and store operators, the strategy shift could mean additional training, equipment changes and incremental capital expenditure. For investors, management turnover in the middle of a strategic pivot introduces execution risk but also an opportunity if new products broaden appeal and lift order frequency. The appointment of an interim chief executive from within the operational ranks suggests the board is prioritising continuity and execution while it seeks a candidate with the expertise to scale a more diversified menu.

The company’s warning about weaker orders into 2026 highlights how fragile recovery remains in the consumer sector. In that environment, the success of Domino’s strategic bet will depend on the speed and cost effectiveness of rollouts, the ability to protect margins in the face of tariffs and supply chain pressures, and the credibility of a management team tasked with delivering a new growth trajectory.

Shareholders and analysts will be watching closely for further detail on the capital allocation review, timing for a permanent chief executive appointment, and early performance results from the new menu tests as indicators of whether the chain can translate a broader product set into sustainable sales growth.