Beautiful Brands International (BBI) has announced the opening of the first store in its latest franchise brand, Dixie Cream Donut Co. The first location is in Jenks, Okla., and comes after months of preparation for BBI, which recently entered into a joint venture with Dixie Cream Donut Co. to franchise and market the brand worldwide.
"There's no question Dixie Cream Donut Co. is a winning branding concept whose time has come," said David Rutkauskas, BBI founder, president and CEO. "The amazing potential this beautiful brand has as a thriving global franchise is very attractive for those looking for a great investment."
The joint venture between Dixie Cream Donut Co. and Beautiful Brands utilizes BBI's organizational system and support to energize the Dixie Cream brand and its viability in the industry. BBI's support includes product development, marketing, real estate, architecture, legal, franchise sales and other aspects of franchise development. Dixie Cream Donut Co. is currently being positioned as a quick-casual donut and deli-style restaurant with a footprint of about 1,600 square feet.
Dixie Cream Donut Co. was founded in 1929 in Dallas and became famous for its unique donut recipe. The Bond family in Tulsa bought Dixie Cream Donut Co. in 2005 and then joined with Beautiful Brands in 2008 to franchise and market the brand worldwide.
In addition to its freshly made donuts and deli-style sandwiches, Dixie Cream also offers fresh roasted coffee, and an array of mugs, T-shirts and hats with the brand's name and logo.
Dixie Cream Donut Co. will face tough competition from donut chains such as Dunkin' Donuts, which has nearly 6,400 U.S. locations and more than 2,400 international stores, and Krispy Kreme, which has more than 500 locations in 18 countries. Canadian-born Tim Hortons also is expanding aggressively in the United States and has about 3,500 stores systemwide, including more than 500 nationally.
