Pizza chain Domino’s cannot get a foot in the door in the cradle of Italy | Financial

Domino’s has decided to close all remaining stores in Italy after disappointing results. In 2017, the American fast food company decided to do business in the lion’s den. They aspired to open nearly nine hundred pizzerias throughout the Mediterranean country. At the time, the chain concluded a franchise agreement with the Italian company ePizza that put the plan into effect.

Domino’s wanted to distinguish itself with a structured national delivery service. But due to ever-growing competition from local family businesses that more often delivered with the help of third parties such as Deliveroo and Just Eat Takeaway, little was done with this plan. They also wanted to introduce the Italian public to controversial American toppings such as pineapple on their pizza. This also proved unsuccessful.

In order to realize its ambitions, Domino’s went into serious debt. The Italian branch of the American company soon ran out of money and was also behind in its financial obligations. According to the pizza company’s latest annual report, this would involve €10.6 million in debt. Earlier this year, the company already received protection from creditors through the courts.

According to Bloomberg, calls to the last branches in Italy go unanswered, even for those customers who wanted to order another Hawaiian pizza despite the controversy.

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