Domino's fails to deliver in Italy—franchise closes after eight years

The Domino's Pizza franchise in Italy has officially closed its doors, marking the end of a short-lived and challenging journey to win over Italian customers. The franchise partner, ePizza, was recently subjected to liquidation proceedings after a Milan-based judge approved the move.

According to a filing with the local chamber of commerce, the court-ordered liquidation could potentially result in creditors recovering just 5 percent of their exposure. The franchise partner had borrowed heavily in order to fund ambitious plans to open 880 stores throughout Italy.

The last of Domino's 29 branches in Italy was shut down last summer, marking the end of the franchise's foray into the birthplace of pizza. Despite efforts to adapt to Italian tastes, the American fast-food chain ultimately struggled to gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive Italian pizza market.