Domino's sees Q4 sales rise 60%

Cash-strapped consumers are turning to pepperoni and cheese to take their minds off their dire bank balances, according to Domino’s Pizza, whose latest results show e-commerce sales have risen by nearly 60% to £84m in the last quarter of 2012.
The group, which now has a total of 805 stores, has been expanding in Europe in recent years, acquiring franchise rights to operate in Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. It also has an option to open in Austria in 2014.
The company – already Britain’s biggest pizza delivery firm – said it would meet year profit expectations after strong online and mobile demand helped boost Q4 sales.
Overall, online sales for the year increased by 46.3%, reaching £268.6m, accounting for 55.7% of total sales. Mobile sales rose by 187% and now account for 19.7% of all online orders.
UK sales at its 612 stores open more than a year were up 5% in the 14 weeks to December 30, up from 4.2% in 557 stores in 2011.
Its range of promotions and a popular online ordering service has gone down well with consumers looking to stay in rather than enjoy more expensive nights out.
Total e-commerce sales for the period in the UK and Ireland rose by 56.6 percent to £84.1m, it said.
For the year as a whole, UK comparable sales were up 5% compared to 3.8% a year ago.
Shares in the FTSE 250 listed firm closed at 527p on Monday, up 21% on a year ago, valuing the business at around £860m.