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The boss of the UK's Domino's Pizza chain who suggested the United Kingdom might have reached peak pizza while diversifying the chain into chicken products has been ousted after tensions with its directors.

Leadership Shake-Up

Rennie is exiting after a brief tenure in leadership, and will be succeeded on an acting basis by the company's chief operating officer, Nicola Frampton, while the pizza giant looks for a long-term chief.

Rennie, who worked for Domino's for over 20 years, had aimed to redirect Britain's largest pizza takeaway chain towards fried chicken, commenting earlier this month there was not “huge potential” left in the UK's pizza market. He noted poultry was the most rapidly expanding protein in the globe.

Board Friction

Reports indicate that there was tension between Rennie and the board over his focus and management style, although the company's release said he was leaving “through mutual consent”.

New Product Introduction

In September, Domino's introduced its poultry brand – which the former chief referred to as a “major strategic shift” for the company – and is testing it in 210 outlets in the North West region and the province.

While the firm is still planning to expand it across its extensive network in the coming year as planned, it considers fried chicken as a supplement for its main pizza offerings.

Board Statement

The Domino's chair, the Domino's chair, said: “The board believes that there are a range of possibilities to drive further growth and performance improvement in the main pizza segment. We are prioritizing selecting the ideal CEO to direct the systematic rollout of that growth strategy.”

Market Difficulties

Earlier this month, Domino's, which has a substantial customer base in the British Isles, said sales fell by one and a half percent in the latest quarter. In the summer, it warned that the food delivery sector had “intensified” as it blamed weaker consumer confidence in the run-up to the government announcement and increasing labor expenses for disappointing revenue and a 15 percent decline in half-year profits.

Competitors are also facing challenges. Another major chain disclosed the shutting of multiple locations a month ago, after the company behind its outlets faced financial collapse.

Wellness Initiatives

Trying to keep up with customer preferences towards healthier eating, the company has launched lower-calorie options, such as its thin-crust selection of bakes below 400 kcals as well as vegan and allergy-friendly pizzas. A family-sized pepperoni has 2,311 calories. A family cheese pizza has 2,171, while a personal has 909 calories.

Interim Leadership

The interim chief has been with the company since the recent past, and was formerly with the gambling company William Hill. It is believed that she does not want to occupy the top job on a full-time basis.

Frampton stated: “The company has a multiple active expansion and operational projects that we will be focused on implementing at pace.”

She said these included further work on the company's procurement system and menu innovation, and its customer retention initiative.

Domino's is also without a permanent chief financial officer until 16 March, when a new appointee starts from the Irish cider and beer maker a well-known firm. In the meantime, Richard Snow acts as acting financial officer.