Domino's serves up 25 jobs as chain delivers new outlet

The new branch, on Slateford Road, is set to open next Friday and will complement the group's existing stores in the Southside, Corstorphine, Leith, Dalry Road and Musselburgh.

Domino's, which was founded in 1960 and boasts more than 400 outlets across the UK, said the new jobs would be a mix of full and part-time posts. The latest opening takes the company's overall Edinburgh head-count to 145, and further expansion is on the cards.

Local Domino's franchise holder Sean Geddes said he felt there was scope for "at least another couple" of outlets in the city.

He said he was on the hunt for trainee managers, pizza makers and delivery drivers.

Mr Geddes added: "I want to employ people who live in the community that we'll be serving. First and foremost I'll be looking for people who can deliver great customer service and demonstrate strong teamwork skills.

"It's also vital to be able to maintain a sense of fun while working under pressure. It can get busy here, especially on Friday nights, when we can often deliver 100 pizzas an hour."

Domino's, widely recognised as the pioneer of the pizza delivery concept, recently posted an 18.9 per cent rise in first-quarter sales but forecast a "more modest" second half than previous years.

Full-year results published in February revealed a 26.6 per cent jump in profits to 11.2 million, helped by a surge in online orders.

The rise in demand also saw system sales grow by 15.1 per cent to 200.7m - the first time they had broken through the 200m barrier.

Group turnover, which is based on royalties from franchises and sales at wholly-owned stores, grew by ten per cent to 81.7m.

Chief executive Stephen Hemsley said: "We are confident that this growth is sustainable into the long-term."

Online orders soared by 69.5 per cent to 13.9m in the year to January 1, with internet orders accounting for 10.4 per cent of all delivered pizza sales.

The UK's home delivery pizza market is expected to be worth almost 1 billion by the end of the decade. However, Domino's and arch-rival Pizza Hut face a new threat from serial entrepreneur and easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who has launched his own easy-branded pizza delivery service.

The first franchise is to be located in Segensworth East, between Portsmouth and Southampton on the south coast of England, but the plans call for the setting up of hundred of franchises UK-wide.

Using the easyGroup's Yield Management System, the pizzas will be priced differently during peak and off-peak times in order to attract custom when demand is normally low.