Domino's Pizza, a world leader in pizza delivery and the largest operator in Britain, is planning a major expansion in the Republic this year, increasing its number of outlets from four to 11 and building a £500,000 (€635,000) dough distribution facility close to the M50.
Mr Stephen Hemsley, financial director of the British company, said up to £3 million would be invested this year in creating more outlets and building a dough-making, storage and distribution centre in the Republic. The centre will serve the existing outlets in Dublin and Limerick, as well as Belfast and Bangor in the North.
With the Limerick branch opening last September, the AIM-listed company established its first outlet outside of Dublin. Mr Hemsley said the flotation had released capital for expansion. Mr Brian McGoey, the franchise holder for Limerick, Galway and Cork, said the Limerick outlet achieved a turnover of £22,000 in its first week of operations. Current weekly turnover is about £17,500.
"Irish people seem to eat a lot more pizza than British people," he said. His next outlet will be in Dominick St in Galway, followed by Cork and a second Limerick outlet before the year's end. Further outlets are also planned for Dublin and Waterford under separate franchise agreements.
Domino's Pizza is an offshoot of a 40-year-old US company. It has 6,559 outlets. The British company was established in 1985 and opened its first Dublin outlet in 1991.
