Pizza delivery company Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc (DOM.L) said Thursday that it witnessed an exceptionally strong third quarter with marked increases in like-for-like sales and system sales. Encouraged by the excellent performance, the company believes it is on track to exceed market expectations for the full year.
In an interim management statement covering the 13 weeks to September 27, the company said like-for-like sales in 501 mature stores rose by 10.8%, compared to an 8.8% growth in 449 stores in 2008. Like-for-like sales for the 39 weeks to September 27, rose 8.3%, compared to 10.5% rise last year.
System sales for the period increased by 17.8% to GBP 98.2 million from last year's GBP 83.3 million. System sales for the 39 weeks to September 27 grew 16.2% to GBP 294.5 million from GBP 253.5 million in 2008.
According to Chris Moore, Chief Executive of the company, "We are particularly pleased with our strong performance during the period as the economic environment continues to be challenging. Our tactical marketing campaigns have played a major role in our success during the period, supported by the firepower of the National Advertising Fund and the deflationary media market."
Domino's said e-commerce sales for the period rose by 43.1%, in comparison with 77.6% last year. In the 39-weeks-period, e-commerce sales in the UK rose by 39.9% to GBP 52.7 million from last year's GBP 37.6 million. The company noted that online orders in the UK now account for 27.2% of delivered sales, compared to 22.6% in 2008.
The company opened seven new stores during the period, compared to nine last year. The total number of new stores opened since the beginning of the year now stands at 30, lower than 34 new stores opened in 2008. The new stores created around 800 jobs in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Domino's said.
As at September 27, 2009 the company had 583 stores, compared to 535 in 2008. The pizza delivery company said it is well-positioned to achieve its target of 50 new store openings this year.
According to Domino's, the Milton Keynes commissary project is progressing well and is on track to be operational as planned by the end of the second quarter of 2010. "With this phase of its infrastructure development expenditure now substantially complete, the company looks forward to utilising its continued strong cash generation in enhancing cash returns to shareholders," it added.
Looking ahead, Moore said, "As a result of strong trading in the third quarter, the Board believes it is on track to exceed market expectations for the full year."
In July, the company reported first-half results, stating that profit before tax increased to GBP 13.09 million from GBP 9.7 million in the previous year. Profit for the half year attributable to owners of the parent were GBP 9.3 million or 5.93 pence per share, compared to a profit of GBP 6.9 million or GBP 4.4 pence per share in the earlier year. Revenues for the period grew 11.3% to GBP 73.7 million from GBP 66.2 million a year ago.
DOM.L is currently trading at 307.00 pence, up 15.00 or 5.14%, on 93,594 shares.
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