Dunkin’ Donuts Announces Eight New Restaurants in South Bend, IN and Kalamazoo, MI

CANTON, MA–(Marketwire – July 19, 2010) –  Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s favorite everyday all-day stop for coffee and baked goods, announced today the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with Sack of Donuts, LLC for eight new restaurants in South Bend, IN and Portage/Kalamazoo, MI. One restaurant will open in 2011 and the remainder by 2015. Dunkin’ Donuts’ development throughout the region is part of a steady and strategic growth strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while entering new cities across the country to help drive the leading coffee and bakery chain’s growth.

Sack of Donuts, LLC is led by brothers Mike and Andy Knapick and Dewayne White, former NFL starting defensive end for the Detroit Lions. The local entrepreneurs also own eight Jimmy John’s and a Bar Louie operation spread out between the South Bend and Kalamazoo markets. 

“Our team has built a strong reputation with our two current concepts and we’re very excited about adding a third operation to our portfolio and expanding Dunkin’ Donuts’ presence in South Bend, Kalamazoo and Portage,” said Mike Knapick, Managing Member, Sack of Donuts, LLC. “We all have a strong passion and loyalty for the brand and know Dunkin’ Donuts will thrive in each of these markets.”

In addition to the development agreement mentioned above, Dunkin’ Donuts is seeking new and existing franchisees to develop restaurants in Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, Washington, DC, and Detroit.

To drive its expansion efforts, Dunkin’ Donuts has aligned its strategy to support the growth opportunities and consumer needs of individual markets. As a result, the company continues to expand with single and multi-unit opportunities with no minimum unit requirements. 

Ideally, franchisees should possess a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $250,000, but financial qualifications will vary based on the opportunity available by market. This evolution of Dunkin’ Donuts’ franchise sales effort enables the brand to expand in markets more aggressively, while balancing its market penetration and maturity.

“Dunkin’ Donuts is excited to expand its footprint in South Bend, Kalamazoo and Portage with Sack of Donuts, LLC,” said Grant Benson, CFE, vice president of franchising and market planning, Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. “Our secret to success is our passionate franchisees who provide a high-level of customer service to our guests everyday and we’re confident Mike, Andy and Dewayne will cultivate lasting relationships and become an integral part of these three communities.”

Building a solid network of stores within a market enables Dunkin’ Donuts to invest in a distribution model that provides a consistent, high-quality product guests expect “in the way and on the way” of their daily routines. In an effort to keep the brand fresh and competitive, Dunkin’ Donuts offers flexible concepts for any real estate format including free-standing restaurants, end caps, in-line sites, gas and convenience, travel plazas, universities, as well as other retail environments.

According to Benson, “Dunkin’ Donuts is proud to energize Americans and keep the honest, hard-working, value-driven people of this country running every day. Our recent and ongoing menu enhancements meet the needs of today’s on-the-go consumers, moving Dunkin’ Donuts beyond breakfast with high-quality food and beverage items available all day.”

Historically a doughnut and hot coffee chain, Dunkin’ Donuts has expanded its offering to include frozen and iced beverages, a full bakery assortment including bagels and muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and an all-day Oven-Toasted menu which includes flatbread sandwiches, hash browns and buttermilk biscuits. The new platform marks the most significant change to Dunkin’ Donuts’ product lineup since the company launched espresso-based beverages in 2003.

In addition to Dunkin’ Donuts expansion, Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of both Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, is seeking qualified candidates to be part of an unprecedented growth campaign designed to expand Baskin-Robbins’ presence in various U.S. markets.

About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite every day, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the regular/decaf coffee, iced coffee, hot flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories, and the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for four years running. The company has more than 9,000 restaurants in 30 countries worldwide. In 2009, Dunkin’ Donuts’ global system-wide sales were $5.7 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin’ Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. For more information, visit www.Dunkinfranchising.com.