Pizza giant benefit from poor weather as profits rise 15%

Takeaway giant Domino’s Pizza delivered a jump in sales and profits today after the Euro 2012 football tournament and record rainfall prompted Britons to stay at home.

Takeaway giant Domino’s Pizza delivered a jump in sales and profits today after the Euro 2012 football tournament and record rainfall prompted customers to stay at home.

Domino’s Pizza, which runs 738 stores across the UK and Ireland, said pre-tax profits rose 15% to £23.3m (€30m) in the 26 weeks to June 24, while like-for-like sales in the UK rose 5.7%.

Chief executive Lance Batchelor said “a combination of rain, sport and national celebrations” boosted business in the second quarter.

The group said it opened 23 new stores in the period and was confident of achieving the target of 72 new stores during the full year, of which 12 are planned in Germany.