The Domino’s Pizza Group is continuing to significantly expand its presence in Northern Ireland, with four new outlets expected to open this year.
The latest planning approval was granted last week for a new pizza outlet in Newcastle, Co Down, with three additional locations confirmed in Newry, Moira and in the former Capers Pizza site in Ballyhackamore, east Belfast.
Subject to approval, it will take Domino’s northern store network to 39.
The fast food chain has already opened five new Northern Ireland outlets since December 2022 in Bangor, Newtownabbey, Dunmurry, Holywood and Derry City.
Each new outlet generally involves the creation of between 20 and 30 jobs.
The more aggressive expansion comes after the Domino’s Pizza Group (DPG) took a significant stake in franchise company Victa DP Limited and took full control of Shorecal’s island-wide network in March 2024.
The food group initially paid £6.6 million for a 46% share of Victa DP in December 2021.
At the time, Victa held the franchise for five Dominos outlets in the north.
Additional debt funding raised following DPG’s move saw Victa acquire an additional 17 locations in Northern Ireland, which operate under the Racz franchise.
The largest controlling interest in Victa belongs to the Racz Group, owned by Mike Racz.
A native of Hungary, Mr Racz’s group, which also operates a number of Costa outlets, is based at Wynyard in Teesside.
In March this year, DPG paid £62m to buy the remaining 85% of the Shorecal franchise, which operates 34 of the 99 Domino’s outlets across the island.
The majority shareholders in the company had been Belfast brothers Adrian and Charles Caldwell.
The Northern Ireland end of their business, Sarcon (No.214) Ltd, recorded a pre-tax profit of £2.4m in 2022.
Shorecal’s franchise, Sarcon & Karshan, is the largest on the island, with its northern outlets largely focused in Greater Belfast.
Its next location will be the former Capers Pizzas branch on the Upper Newtownards Road.
The company, which was Belfast’s oldest pizza business, closed its last remaining branch in March 2024.
Victa DP is behind plans for three new Domino’s outlets in the north.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council formally approved the latest pizza shop on May 23 2024.
The proposal involves the conversion of a retail unit at Railway Street in Newcastle.
The new outlet will be located opposite the Co Down town’s former train station, currently occupied by Lidl.
Planning authorities in Newry Mourne and Down are also considering a separate Victa proposal to open a new Domino’s outlet at The Quays shopoping centre in Newry city centre.
Victa DP Limited has also applied for a new pizza shop near Moira.
The application, submitted in March 2024, could soon see a former roadside diner on Glenavy Road converted into a new pizza takeaway.
