Domino's Pizza CEO talks weakness in international franchisee

Core Viewpoint - Domino's Pizza is experiencing strong performance in the U.S. market, but has provided weakened guidance for its international business, particularly due to challenges faced by its largest international franchisee, Domino's Pizza Enterprises (DPE) [1][3]. Group 1: U.S. Business Performance - The company reported strong business performance in the U.S., with increased orders across all income segments, including delivery and carryout [2]. - CEO Russell Weiner emphasized that "value has never been higher" in the U.S. market [2]. Group 2: International Business Challenges - Domino's may fall short of its target for international store growth by 175 to 275 stores, primarily due to weaknesses in DPE, which operates in countries like Australia, New Zealand, France, and the Netherlands [3]. - Weiner mentioned that the company will be "partnering closely with DPE" to address these challenges [4]. Group 3: International Successes - Despite challenges with DPE, Domino's is seeing solid success in other international markets, particularly in China and India [4]. - Weiner acknowledged that operating in over 90 markets can lead to "fits and starts," but the diversity of markets helps balance overall performance [5]. Group 4: Product Development - The company is actively launching new products, such as the "New York Style" pizza, to attract different customer preferences [2][5]. - Weiner noted that the introduction of new products aims to bring in incremental eaters who may prefer different styles of pizza [5].