Pizza giant Domino’s to return $792,000 of JobKeeper payments

Pizza giant Domino’s says it will return all the money it received through JobKeeper during the pandemic.

Domino’s will return all JobKeeper payments it received last year, saying the need for the wage scheme has passed.

In a note lodged to the Australian Stock Exchange on Friday, the Brisbane-based pizza giant confirmed it would return $792,000 to taxpayers by the end of the current financial year.

Domino’s franchises were eligible for JobKeeper during the height of the pandemic despite the company experiencing a profit hike due to increased demand for takeaway services.

Domino’s franchises were eligible for JobKeeper during the height of the pandemic. Picture Glenn Hampson

The company’s chief executive Don Meij said the scheme had served an important purpose during the peak period of uncertainty and allowed employees to stay connected with their workplace.

“We appreciate the availability and support of JobKeeper during a period of significant uncertainty,” Mr Meij said.

“That period has passed, the assistance package has served its purpose, and we return it to Australian taxpayers with our thanks.”

The company’s chief executive Don Meij said the scheme had served an important purpose during the peak period of uncertainty. Picture: Supplied

Domino’s at its 2020 full-year results posted a profit of $138.4m, a 19.4 per cent rise on the previous year. Its revenue intake over the same period soared 32.7 per cent to $1.9bn.

The company is expected to reveal its half-yearly results for the 2021 financial year on February 17.

Domino’s also noted none of its executive team received short-term incentives for the financial year where JobKeeper had been used to pay workers’ wages.

“We have applied straightforward principles to navigate this pandemic: to put people first (both customers and team members), to stand side-by-side with our franchisees, to listen to health experts, and to avoid relying on unnecessary government assistance,” Mr Meij said.

Labor senator Andrew Leigh said Domino’s joined a raft of companies, including Toyota Australia and Super Retail Group, that had handed back support money after returning to a healthy profit margin.

“They’ve shown a measure of social responsibility following Labor’s calls for big businesses that have enjoyed bumper profits to return JobKeeper subsidies,” he said.