Trading Statement

RNS Number : 2191L

Domino's Pizza UK & IRL PLC

07 January 2009

 



                                7 January 2009 

Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc

Quarter Four Trading Update

13 weeks to 28 December 2008

Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc ('Domino's' or 'the Company') today announces system sales for the 52 weeks ended 28 December 2008 increased by 18.4% (2007: 23.4%) to £350.8m (2007: £296.3m), with like for like sales for the same 52 week period up by 10.0% (2007: 14.7%). Like for like sales grew by 8.6% for the 13 weeks to 28 December 2008 (2007: 14.8%). 

Domino's is particularly delighted to have exceeded its target of opening 50 stores in the year, with a total of 52 new stores joining the system (2007: 50), creating around 1,500 new jobs. No stores were closed (2007: nil), taking the total number of stores at year end to 553 (2007: 501).

E-commerce continues to be a major platform for building business.  Total e-commerce sales for the 52 week period to 28 December 2008 were up by 73.7% (2007: 60.5%) and reached £55.9 million (2007: £32.2 million) - supported by some record weekends where on-line sales were in excess of £1 million. Total e-commerce sales in the UK and Ireland for the 13 week period to 28 December 2008 rose by 56.2% (2007: 89.5%). 

Chris Moore, Chief Executive commented: 'We are delighted with the year's performance - especially as we were up against some incredibly tough comparables from 2007. Our commitment to e-commerce, sponsorship of Britain's Got Talent, and our single-minded focus on providing our customers with the best pizza delivery service in the UK and Ireland, has again resulted in significant growth for our franchisees and shareholders.

'We continue to innovate with exciting new products and by concentrating on maintaining and continually improving our product quality, customer service and marketing, our business model is proving to be resilient in the current trading environment.

'Despite the challenging economic environment, our franchisees' appetite for growth continues, as does our belief that the Domino's recipe - to deliver great quality pizza with unbeatable service, supported by extensive and highly targeted marketing - is right for these times.

'We continue to strive towards our goal of at least 1,000 stores in the UK and Ireland and have every confidence in our franchisees and management team to achieve further success.

'The Board is confident that the Company will deliver full year 2008 profits ahead of current City expectations and we will update the market further on 17 February 2009 with the publication of the Company's preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 28 December 2008.'

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Domino's Pizza:
Chris Moore - Chief Executive Officer Lee Ginsberg - Chief Financial Officer Georgina Wald - Corporate Communications Manager	01908 580604 01908 580611 01908 580660
Numis Securities Limited David Poutney, James Serjeant	020 7260 1000
Altium
Ben Thorne, Tim Richardson	020 7484 4040
Hogarth Partnership Limited:
Fiona Noblet, Anthony Arthur	020 7357 9477

Notes to editors: 

Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc holds the exclusive master franchise to own, operate and franchise Domino's Pizza stores in the UK and Ireland. The Group is the leading player in the UK and Ireland's fast-growing pizza delivery market. The first UK store opened in 1985 and the first Irish store opened in 1991. 

As at 28 December 2008, there were 553 stores in the UK and Ireland. Of these, 434 stores are in England, 43 are in Scotland, 22 are in Wales, 13 are in Northern Ireland and 41 are in the Republic of Ireland.

Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is one of the world's leading pizza delivery brands. Through its primarily franchised system, Domino's Pizza operates a global network of more than 8,700 stores in over 50 countries.

For photography visit www.dominos.uk.com/media or contact Hogarth on [phone].

 

END

 

 

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