As Worldwide Sales Stay Strong, Domino’s Opens For Business In Romania

Maybe it’s the new sauce, but Domino’s Pizza sales and store growth are on an upward curve. The chain just opened its first store in Romania, and under its agreement with its master franchisee there, has plans to move beyond the capital of Bucharest. New master franchise agreements also were signed this year for Bulgaria, Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Nearly half of Domino’s global retail sales come from international stores. The chain operates in more than 60 markets worldwide, accounting for more than a third of adjusted operating income.

J. Patrick Doyle, Domino’s president and CEO, expressed optimism about the chain’s global potential. “As we continue to expand in existing markets and open stores in new markets, this division will continue to accelerate our drive to 10,000 stores worldwide." Currently, the chain has 9,169 stores.

For the third quarter ended September 12, the company’s domestic same-store sales rose 11.7% compared with the prior year. International sales continued on an upswing for the 67^th consecutive quarter: same-store sales were up 7%.

The Detroit-based chain also reported that capital expenditures for the first three quarters of 2010 were up $2.8 million, due primarily to equipment and technology initiatives.