Domino's to get a bigger pizza the action!

Recessions are not bad for everyone. Some industries thrive in a downturn. Many qualms and quibbles go out the window as needs triumph over desires. Fast-food outlets are a case in point. Their food is generally seen as being 'recession-proof'.

Yesterday, the London-listed arm of Domino's Pizza announced it is planning a sizeable investment in Ireland in order to cope with growing demand for its products here. The company's plans include 10 new Irish stores in 2009. This follows on its seven new outlets last year. Each new store creates an average of 30 jobs.

The company, which operates the franchise for the global brand in the UK and Ireland, currently has a commissary facility in Naas, Co Kildare. It was built for €15m and produces and distributes pizza bases and other products to the chain's stores across Ireland.

Domino's Pizza UK & Ireland said yesterday that full-year sales jumped 18.4pc last year to £350.8m (€397m), while pre-tax profit rose 24.7pc to £23.4m (€26.5m). Like-for-like sales in 450 outlets were up 10pc. At the end of December, the firm had 553 stores between the UK and Ireland, with 41 in the Republic of Ireland and 13 in Northern Ireland. Its store in Tallaght is one of the busiest Domino's outlets in the world.

Four Star Pizza, the wholly Irish owned franchise based pizza company, announced last month it will create 200 jobs over 2009, with the opening of ten new franchise locations here.