Dunkin' Donuts announced today the signing of a multiunit store development agreement with new franchise group, Coffee Action West LLC, for 21 traditional Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and three Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins combination units in the Austin, Texas, metro area.

Coffee Action West LLC has also acquired an existing Dunkin' Donuts corporate restaurant in Round Rock and a second in Austin Proper, Texas. Its first new restaurant in the market is planned to open in early 2013 in Cedar Park, Texas, a northwest suburb of Austin.

Coffee Action West LLC is comprised of partners that include former University of Texas, and Cleveland Browns Quarterback Colt McCoy and quick-service industry veteran Dale Mulvey. The company is financed by Michael Karsch, founder of a New York-based investment management firm.

"We are excited to expand Dunkin' Donuts' presence in the Austin Metro Area and play an important role in the daily lives of people who live, work and visit here," Mulvey said. "We have a passion and loyalty for the brand and look forward to the opening of our Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the years to come."

Although the Austin Metro Area market is no longer available for franchise sales, development opportunities throughout Texas remain in the eastern, southern and western parts of the state.

Further demonstrating Dunkin' Donuts' commitment to Texas, in 2010, the brand and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) dedicated the nation's first Dunkin' Donuts baking and pastry classroom, located on the CIA's San Antonio, Texas, campus. Dunkin' Brands made a $900,000 pledge to become a founding donor of the CIA's "El Sueno" initiative, which educates students and industry professionals about traditional Latin American baked goods and provides them with industry-specific skills.

Supply co-op donates 25 tons of coffee to Feeding America

Dunkin' Donuts, in partnership with The National DCP LLC (NDCP), a member-owned supply chain cooperative owned by Dunkin' Donuts franchisees, today announced a donation of more than 25 tons of coffee — at least 100,000 8-oz. bags — to Feeding America, a hunger-relief organization.

Feeding America will distribute the donation among numerous food banks nationwide to aid in the fight against domestic hunger.

"Especially during the holiday season, food banks across the country face a high demand," said Karen Raskopf, senior vice president of communications at Dunkin' Brands and co-chair of The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. "Coffee is a popular item that is requested at the food banks, and Dunkin' Donuts is proud to donate a significant amount of our coffee to Feeding America and help to provide a warm, comforting beverage to people in need."

This donation aligns with The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation's (DDBRCF) mission to serve the basic needs of our communities through food for the hungry, safety and children's health. The DDBRCF has had a national partnership with Feeding America since 2007 and has donated nearly $1 million to support local food banks.

Read more about franchising and growth.