Dunkin’ Donuts is in the midst of a national expansion to increase its franchise locations in the U.S. Fueling this growth is today’s announcement that Memphis, Tennessee, is now open for market development with plans to open more than 50 new restaurants over the next several years.

Dunkin’ Donuts’ Memphis launch is part of an aggressive national growth strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while entering new cities throughout the country. The company is actively seeking new franchisees to own and operate a minimum of five new restaurants in Memphis and all throughout the country to help direct the company’s future growth.

Dunkin’ Donuts also signed store development agreements for five stores in each market of Knoxville and Nashville, with the first store opening in Dixon, Tennessee, in December 2007.

“To fulfill our national expansion goals, Dunkin’ Donuts is looking for developers with a strong organization and the ability to manage multiple restaurants effectively and successfully in the Memphis market,” says Lynette McKee, CFE, vice president of franchising, Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. “We also look for some prior restaurant operations and real estate development experience.”

Additional opportunities for new franchises exist in Southern Memphis and Mississippi, including the counties of Lafayette, Tunica, Coahoma, Quitman, and Panola.

Building a network of stores also enables Dunkin’ Donuts to invest in a distribution model that ensures consistent, high-quality products that customers expect when visiting a Dunkin’ Donuts location. In an effort to keep the brand fresh and competitive, Dunkin’ Donuts offers franchisees a variety of designs and venues, including free-standing stores, sites within shopping centers and convenience stores and other retail environments.

According to McKee, “Dunkin’ Donuts will satisfy a growing demand in Memphis for high-quality coffee and baked goods that are available all day. Dunkin’ Donuts is proud to energize Americans and keep the honest, hard-working, value-driven people of this country running every day–whether it’s in a boardroom, a schoolroom or a construction site. We look forward to being a vibrant part of the community and playing an important role in the daily lives of the people who live and work in Memphis.”

Dunkin’ Donuts recently launched its new, all-day Oven-Toasted menu. The new platform marks the most significant change to Dunkin’ Donuts product lineup since the company launched espresso-based beverages in 2003. The menu items are now available in 3,500 shops throughout the country, including participating Dunkin’ Donuts locations in New England, New York, and Florida, and will be available nationwide by spring.

Dunkin’ Donuts has been serving freshly ground and freshly brewed coffee and bakery items for more than 58 years. The company sells more donuts and bagels than any other quick service restaurant in America, and is the number one retailer of hot and iced coffee, selling more than one billion cups of coffee a year in its restaurants throughout the country. Dunkin’ Donuts has set the standard for offering a superior grade of coffee, and the company sells more than one billion cups of hot and iced coffee every year. In 2007, AOL.com readers cited Dunkin’ Donuts as the “Best Overall” coffee. For the second year in a row, Dunkin’ Donuts ranked number one in customer loyalty in the coffee category by the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index.