Domino's Pizza, Inc.
Company History
Domino's Pizza History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1960 in Ypsilanti, United States
When was Domino's Pizza founded?
Domino's Pizza was founded in 1960 in Ypsilanti, United States by Tom Monaghan and James Monaghan, making it 66 years old.
- Founded
- 1960
- Founding place
- Ypsilanti, United States
- Founders
- Tom Monaghan and James Monaghan
- Headquarters today
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1960–2026)
- Current CEO
- Joseph (Joe) Jordan
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1960 | DomiNick's purchased |
| 1965 | Renamed Domino's Pizza |
| 1973 | 30-Minute Delivery Guarantee |
| 1983 | First international stores |
| 1998 | Bain Capital recapitalization |
| 2004 | IPO |
| 2008 | Pizza Tracker Launched |
| 2009 | Pizza Turnaround |
| 2010 | Patrick Doyle becomes CEO |
| 2018 | Ritch Allison becomes CEO |
| 2025 | FY2025 results |
| 2026 | Joe Jordan becomes CEO |
- Where was Domino's Pizza founded?
- Domino's Pizza was founded in Ypsilanti, United States in 1960. wikidata.org
- Who founded Domino's Pizza?
- Domino's Pizza was founded by Tom Monaghan and James Monaghan.
- When did Domino's Pizza start?
- Domino's Pizza was founded in 1960.
- How old is Domino's Pizza?
- Domino's Pizza is 66 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
In 1960 Tom Monaghan and his brother James bought DomiNick's, a small pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan, near Eastern Michigan University, using about $900 in borrowed money. In 1961 James traded his half of the business to Tom for the shop's Volkswagen Beetle. Tom cut the menu down, focused on fast delivery to students, and renamed the business Domino's Pizza in 1965.
Founders
Tom Monaghan
Tom Monaghan co-founded Domino's in 1960 when he and his brother James bought DomiNick's in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with about $900 in borrowed money. After James traded his half of the business for the shop's Volkswagen Beetle in 1961, Tom became sole owner and renamed the chain Domino's Pizza in 1965. He built the company around fast delivery and franchising, introduced the 30-minute delivery promise, and expanded abroad from 1983. In 1998 he sold a roughly 93% stake to Bain Capital in a deal widely reported at about $1 billion, then focused on Catholic philanthropy, including founding Ave Maria University. Tom Monaghan was born in 1937 in Ann Arbor.
James Monaghan
James Monaghan co-bought DomiNick's with his brother Tom in 1960. Unwilling to give up his postal job for the long hours of the pizza shop, he traded his half of the business to Tom in 1961 in exchange for the store's Volkswagen Beetle, a deal often cited as one of the most costly trades in business history. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
DomiNick's purchased
Tom and James Monaghan buy a small pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Source: sec.gov30-Minute Delivery Guarantee
Domino's introduced its guarantee of delivery within 30 minutes in 1973.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst international stores
Domino's opens in Winnipeg, Canada, and Queensland, Australia.
Source: sec.govBain Capital recapitalization
Tom Monaghan sells a roughly 93% stake to Bain Capital.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPizza Turnaround
The company reformulates its core pizza recipe and admits past quality complaints in national ads.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPatrick Doyle becomes CEO
Patrick Doyle became CEO of Domino's Pizza in 2010. Doyle's tenure is widely credited with one of the best-known restaurant turnarounds; the stock rose sharply during the 2010s as digital ordering became a core sales channel.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRitch Allison becomes CEO
Ritch Allison became CEO of Domino's Pizza in 2018. Handed over to Russell Weiner in May 2022.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFY2025 results
$4.94 billion revenue, $601.7 million net income and 776 net new stores.
Source: ir.dominos.comJoe Jordan becomes CEO
Joe Jordan succeeds Russell Weiner as CEO on October 1, 2026.
Source: ir.dominos.comMajor Acquisitions
Domino (Taiwan)
2021Regional market consolidation.
Pizza Dominium
2020Expansion in Poland.
Hallo Pizza
2017Expansion in Germany.
Dolly Dimple's
2017Expansion in Norway.
Keep researching Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza Company History FAQ
What is the chronological history of Domino's Pizza from 1960 to the present day?
Founded in 1960 in Michigan, Domino's introduced the corrugated pizza box, grew nationally with the 30-minute guarantee, expanded internationally in 1983, was acquired by Bain Capital in 1998, went public on the NYSE in 2004, executed the well-known 2009 recipe turnaround, and became the world's #1 pizza company.
When did Domino's open its first international store?
Domino's opened its first international store in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in May 1983, followed shortly by its first overseas store in Queensland, Australia, in December 1983, kicking off four decades of global expansion.
When did Domino's Pizza complete its Initial Public Offering on the NYSE?
Domino's Pizza completed its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange on July 13, 2004, under ticker symbol DPZ at $14.00 per share, raising over $330 million.
When did Domino's launch the 'Domino's Tracker' and mobile ordering app?
Domino's transformed restaurant digital technology by launching the major Domino's Tracker in 2008 and its first iPhone ordering app in 2011, establishing the gold standard for real-time delivery order tracking.
When did Domino's surpass Pizza Hut to become the #1 pizza company in the world?
In 2018, Domino's Pizza officially surpassed Pizza Hut in global retail sales to become the #1 pizza company in the world, a title it has held and widened ever since.
How did Domino's perform during the global COVID-19 pandemic?
Domino's excelled during the 2020 to 2021 pandemic by pioneering contactless delivery and contactless carside carryout, hiring over 20,000 new team members, and generating record double-digit same-store sales growth.
When did Domino's announce its historic global partnership with Uber Eats?
In July 2023, Domino's announced an agreement to list its stores on the Uber Eats and Postmates marketplace across the United States and 28 international markets, driving an influx of new, incremental digital delivery orders.
What is Domino's long-term vision for the global pizza industry?
Domino's vision is to be the dominant global pizza company, powering 28,000+ stores worldwide with delicious quality food, sub-20 minute delivery, unbeatable customer value, and advanced digital ordering innovation.
How did Domino's start?
It was founded in 1960 when brothers Tom and James Monaghan bought a small pizza store called "DomiNick's" in Ypsilanti, Michigan for just $900. James traded his half of the business to Tom for a used Volkswagen Beetle just eight months later.
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