Domino’s expects to create 1,500 jobs after record profits

PIZZA delivery firm Domino’s has said the UK’s appetite for takeaway food should help it generate 1,500 jobs this year.

With annual profits up by 11 per cent to £46.7 million, the firm expects to roll out more franchise-run stores as part of a drive for around 1,200 outlets.

It sold 61 million pizzas last year but estimates it only serves on average 19 per cent of UK households, presenting the brand with a “huge growth opportunity”.

More than half of sales are now online, with 56 per cent of UK customers ordering take-away pizzas over the internet, compared to 44 per cent a year earlier. In one recent week, the firm said it had a dozen stores receiving more than 80 per cent of their delivered sales

online, and added that an increasing number of customers were using mobile phones to order a pizza.

The group holds the master franchise to own, operate and franchise outlets in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Switzerland, having opened its first UK store in Luton in 1985.

Its UK franchisees opened 57 additional shops – taking the total to 727 – with the average number of stores for each franchisee at 6.3, compared to 5.7 the previous year.

The final dividend rises 16.2 per cent to 7.9p, giving a total payout of 14.5p, up 17.9 per cent.