Dunkin' Donuts made significant inroads with its national expansion plan in 2009, as the company reports the opening of 351 net new locations worldwide and 131 new signed franchise commitments in the United States.
For the year, Dunkin' Donuts opened 171 net new U.S restaurants, of which 90 percent were outside of the brand's core New England market. Included among these new and planned outlets are non-traditional locations such as airports, arenas, travel plazas and universities.
"Despite the economy, Dunkin' Donuts experienced strong net growth across the U.S. as well as internationally, which positions us as one of the fastest growing QSR brands in the industry last year," said Nigel Travis, CEO, Dunkin' Brands, in a news release. "As we continue to grow in 2010, we are focusing on steady, strategic growth that allows us to gain greater penetration in our existing markets, while also entering a few select new territories.
"Additionally, we are also focused on driving operational excellence in our existing locations to ensure our guests continue to enjoy a high-quality product and experience every day in new and existing locations alike."
Dunkin' Donuts signed multi-store development commitments in more than 20 areas around the country, including new markets such as Louisville, Ky., Birmingham, Ala.,; Dayton, Ohio, Madison, Wis., and Erie, Pa. International expansion included net new locations in China, Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the Bahamas.
"We're very pleased with Dunkin' Donuts' growth," Travis said. "Our team has worked hard to evolve our concept to operate more efficiently and effectively and to include smaller footprints. Our 2009 growth speaks to the success of their efforts."
In order to keep the brand fresh and competitive, Dunkin' Donuts offers franchisees flexible design concepts including free-standing stores, end caps, in-line sites, kiosks and gas stations, as well as other retail environments.
Dunkin' Donuts has aligned its development strategy to support the growth opportunities and consumer needs of each individual market. As a result, franchising opportunities range from single units to multi-store development commitments with no unit minimums. This evolution of Dunkin' Donuts franchise development effort enables it to expand, while balancing its market penetration and maturity.
