Dunkin’ Donuts announced its plans to expand to California’s Central Valley and Central Coast, including Fresno, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara. The company is recruiting multi-unit operators to open both traditional restaurants and a wide range of non-traditional venues, including colleges and universities, casinos, military bases, supermarkets, airports, and travel centers. Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open as many as 1,000 restaurants throughout the state.
In January, Dunkin’ Donuts announced plans to enter Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Orange counties in California, and it has since executed franchise agreements to develop more than 70 new free-standing restaurants in these markets, which will begin to open in 2015. A franchise agreement with Embassy Suites San Diego has also been signed, and the restaurant is slated to open in the first quarter of 2014. A location is scheduled to open in the Barstow Station building in Barstow, California, before year-end.
“We’re experiencing incredible momentum in our growth, both east and west of the Mississippi, and are thrilled to open the Central Valley and the Central Coast regions for development opportunities,” says Grant Benson, vice president of franchising and business development for Dunkin’ Brands. “We look forward to opening both traditional and non-traditional Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in California and to making our famous beverages, baked goods, and sandwiches available to an ever-growing base of customers.”
For a limited time, special development incentives are available, including reduced royalty fees in the early years and a $10,000 local store marketing contribution by the company for qualifying franchisees. Foodservice, operations, and real estate experience is required for all candidates.
In an effort to keep the brand competitive, Dunkin’ Donuts offers franchisees flexible design concepts including freestanding stores, end caps, in-line sites, kiosks, and gas stations, as well as other retail environments. The company’s non-traditional locations are positioned to address consumer demand in a captured environment within an established trade area, and depending on the size of the available venue, locations can offer the complete food and beverage menu or a limited menu geared to consumer demands.
“If you meet our qualifications and have the ability to deliver a high level of customer service within your community while maintaining a dedication to our core company values, it’s time to join one of the world’s fastest-growing [quick service restaurant] companies with more than 95 percent brand recognition in the U.S.,” says Benson.
Dunkin’ Donuts’ new look includes four distinct restaurant design options for franchisees, each featuring variations in layout, color schemes, graphics, textures, furniture, and lighting. The designs, called Original Blend, Cappuccino Blend, Dark Roast, and Jazz Brew, are meant to enhance the current restaurant appearance, environment, and layout to serve people all day long. Dunkin’ Donuts allows franchisees to select individual elements from any of the four options, creating a restaurant design that reflects their personal tastes and preferences, and best serves their specific restaurant size and location.
