Domino's Pizza China adds 84 stores as same-store sales lag

DPC Dash, the master franchisee behind Domino's Pizza China, added 84 net new stores in the third quarter of 2026, taking its network to 1,634 outlets across 87 cities by September 30, 2026. The company reported the expansion in an investor update published on October 12, 2026, alongside higher same-store transaction counts but continued negative same-store sales growth.

The update shows the distinction between the franchisee's expanding footprint and sales performance at established outlets. According to DPC Dash, average transaction prices improved modestly from the previous quarter but remained below their level in 3Q2025, outweighing the benefit of year-on-year transaction growth.

New cities account for approximately 44% of network

DPC Dash entered 12 additional cities during the quarter as it pursued a strategy combining greater penetration of existing markets with expansion into new locations. Its network comprised 908 stores in initial cities and 726 in new cities, with the latter representing approximately 44% of the total.

Across the first nine months of 2026, the company added 319 net new stores and entered 27 new cities. DPC Dash holds the exclusive Domino's master franchise rights for the Chinese Mainland and the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions.

Delivery and loyalty membership increase

The company attributed the sequential improvement in average transaction prices to marketing initiatives, against a backdrop of gradually reduced third-party aggregator platform subsidies. Same-store transaction count growth was positive in 3Q2026, although the recovery in average spending was insufficient to return same-store sales growth to positive territory.

Delivery accounted for 30% of transaction volumes in New City Markets in 3Q2026, compared with 25% in 1H2026, as DPC Dash extended the service. The company said third-party aggregator platforms continued to be an important channel for that expansion.

Loyalty programme membership reached 45.2 million as of September 30, 2026, against 32.9 million as of September 30, 2025. Approximately 19.9 million new customers placed their first orders through the company's own channels and third-party channels over the past 12 months, according to the update.

Value offers support sales push

The quarter's promotions included a RMB79 six-piece set with two 9-inch pizzas, sides and drinks, alongside a solo combo. DPC Dash also brought back its limited-time Mega Week buy-one-get-one-free offer on Signature and Classic Flavor pizzas.

Menu development included the launch of a Durian Roast Chicken Pizza. For the Mid-Autumn Festival, the company offered its Salted Egg Yolk Flavored Chicken Pizza in a limited-edition Star & Moon design, while a campaign during the traditional Major Heat period highlighted potato pizza flavours.

Social media activity promoted the buy-one-get-one-free offers and invited customers to share examples of red-and-blue colour combinations in everyday settings. These initiatives sat within the company's strategy covering development, pizza value, delivery and digital channels.

For the remainder of 2026, DPC Dash's stated opening target is approximately 350 net new stores. By September 30, the company said it had secured 100% of that target through outlets already open, under construction or signed, compared with approximately 89% as of June 30.