Domino's Pizza today held its AGM and announced a rise in system sales of 21.3 per cent to £105.3 million in the 16 weeks to 20 April 2008. The company also said that its like for like sales in the period jumped 13 per cent.

Stephen Hemsley, executive chairman of Domino's said that the rise in sales reflected the company's successful product and marketing innovations and our continuing focus on improving operational standards, and in particular, improving the delivery times to our customers.

During the AGM Hemsley said that e-commerce had risen 95.2 per cent to £15.3 million and now represented 21 per cent of all UK delivered sales.

Hemsley said, We are very encouraged by the strong start to the year, but are mindful of the demanding comparatives over the summer last year driven by the particularly poor weather.

He added, Nevertheless, our eight week sponsorship of Britain's Got Talent on ITV1 has just commenced and early indications are that viewing figures are exceeding our expectations having attracted a peak audience of over 10 million in the first week of the programme and over 11 million in the second week. A further eight week sponsorship of America's Got Talent on ITV2 then follows on in the summer and our brand prominence during these shows should have a positive impact on our sales over this period. Prospects for 2008 remain good notwithstanding these demanding comparatives.

Hemsley said that 13 new Domino's stores had opened as of 24 April 2008 and that the company was on track to meet its target of opening 50 new stores in the year.

He added that Domino's was progressing to being added to the Official List and expected the process to be completed by 19 May 2008.

Hemsley finished saying that he expected results for the financial year to be ahead of current market expectations, thanks to strong sales and new store openings.

United kingdom