Q&A with Domino’s senior acquisitions manager, Robin Dunne.

Q&A with Robin Dunne

(senior acquisitions manager, Domino’s Pizza)

What plans do Domino’s have for 2022?

We have plans to open 45 to 50 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland this year and for the following two years.

Are Domino’s looking for new franchisees in new, or different types of, locations? (if so, where and what?)

Yes – we have new entrant franchisees in the system who have recently opened in Whittlesey and Cheadle.

How has the response to Covid impacted Domino’s business model and growth plans?

We had the privilege to continue to trade during Covid and business levels were generally maintained – so Covid has not impacted our growth plans.

Are Domino’s seeking existing, experienced multi-site franchisees, or new entrants?

We expect most of our growth will be with existing franchisees, although there will be a limited number of new franchisees entering the system each year – most of whom we expect will have experience of working for Domino’s.

What can the brand offer new franchisees in terms of marketing, training and support?

There is dedicated resource to take new franchisees through the entire journey of being a Domino’s franchisee – from business-plan development to opening their store and beyond.

How do Domino’s view the current competition? (delivered and take-out pizza having been a ‘go-to’ option for many food operators during lockdown)

We are in a competitive market and welcome competition as it drives our store teams to be the best they can be to provide a high-quality product with strong service levels. A current concern is that we consider there must be a level playingfield – we are aware of new competitor entrants to the market occupying premises without the correct planning use for takeaway/delivery and consider this is unfair to Domino’s and other existing operators with takeaway consents. There is currently a temporary ability for most occupiers to operate as a takeaway due to the relaxation of planning regulations as a response to Covid which expires in March 2022. So it will be interesting to see how local authorities will then deal with those operating without the correct takeaway planning consent.

How will new technology and apps change the face of delivery in the future?

We are constantly evolving our technology at Domino’s by seeking improvements to our app and innovation such as GPS tracking of orders for customers.

How do Domino’s see the role of aggregators?

We consider they are an active part of the food delivery business which has obviously seen huge growth in the last 10 years.

Are supply issues and recruitment issues impacting Domino’s business right now?

As widely reported, recruitment of delivery drivers for supply chains has been difficult during the last 12 months, but we are very proud of our supply chain achievements at Domino’s as they have maintained excellent delivery service levels to our franchisees. Recruitment and retention of delivery drivers by franchisees for our stores has been challenging during the last 12 months – particularly in major conurbations.

What do Domino’s see as the main business challenges – and opportunities - going forward in the pizza delivery and takeout sector?

We are keen to continue to grow our Domino’s estate, so we can provide an increased ability for more customers to enjoy a Domino’s. As can be seen from our target list of locations, we consider there is plenty of room for growth!