Domino’s strategy day addressing its Australia/NZ and Asia segments reinforced its long-term ambition for growth. While Australia/NZ is performing well, Japan has challenges because too many stores have been opened too quickly. The issue of franchisee profitability was raised and structural challenges in Japan, Taiwan and France acknowledged by management. As a result, investors should brace for lower store growth including a lowering of the medium-term targets. Store growth of 4%-6% is more realistic than the current 7%-9% target.

Domino’s company needs to clarify key issues in our view before a positive stance can be taken. We are looking for answers on whether Japan needs to pause store rollouts, the trajectory of sales in Europe and discounting intensity in Australia. There is a wide range of potential outcomes, ranging from whether Domino’s can quickly reignite store growth and pizza volumes or, more likely, store rollout struggles for another three years. Domino’s will release results on 21 February 2024.

Treasury hosted a meeting with Treasury Premium Brands MD, Peter Nielson. The message was very clear about driving a higher EBITS margin. However, the path there is dependent on many factors. A better channel mix towards on-premise, more sales to Asia and leveraging 19 Crimes, Wynns, Pepperjack, St Huberts The Stag and Squealing Pig were all called out as drivers. We also see lower COGS as a factor in supporting margins over the next three years. Treasury Premium Brands accounts for 9% of our enterprise value. We expect the key business drivers to remain as Penfolds and the Americas.

We expect a more mild slowdown in Domino’s same store sales growth (SSSg) in key markets as higher COVID-19 cases are likely to lead to more sales of pizza. Our analysis of data from restaurant bookings in Japan has shown a drop recently, which is likely to lead to more home delivered food. Europe is also likely to have decent SSSg in 1H22e. In the report, we address  Domino’s Japan’s potential same store sales path; Domino’s Europe’s exposure to rising COVID-19 cases; and The upside and downside risks from here.

Domino’s faces a risk of slowing sales. We expect same store sales growth (SSSg) to slow meaningfully over the next 12 months. While Domino’s has had strong sales and store openings, some of its sales gains are a result of COVID-19 lockdowns in our view. In Japan we expect SSSg to turn negative in 2022, this is the region that had the largest growth over 2020 and 1H of calendar 2021. As economies reopen, consumers will have other food choices.