News

Dunkin' Donuts immersed itself in nontraditional sites last year

February 20, 2018

Dunkin' Donuts U.S. franchisees opened more than 86 new nontraditional locations last year, including more units in hotels, rest stops and travel centers, and even grocery stores, a news release said.

Examples include locations in the Las Vegas and Biloxi Hard Rock Hotel & Casino properties, as well as the Kansan grocer, Price Chopper and a dozen U.S. travel centers. 

"Nontraditional restaurants continue to be an integral piece of what truly keeps America running on Dunkin', by consistently introducing and providing our level of convenience and service to the on-the-go customer in markets nationwide," Dunkin' Brands Nontraditional Development Director Chris Burr, said in the release. "We're excited about the strong growth of the nontraditional sector in 2017, from being able to provide our signature cup of coffee at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City to offering our selection of baked goods to the students on the University of Hawaii campus, we're eager to see where 2018 will take us."

The company said it significantly expanded its partnership with Pilot Flying J Travel Centers last year, which accounted for nearly half of the dozen rest stop-style openings in 2017. Another 20 openings — including full- and self-serve locations — are in the works for 2018.

In 2017, Dunkin' opened its 10th restaurant under a franchise agreement with Great Wolf Lodge, with two more to open this year in Atlanta and Chicago.

Eight more restaurants opened on university campuses last year from Hawaii to the East Coast. 

"Dunkin' Donuts attributes much of its growth in this segment to our ability to blend opportunities in these unique venues across both our excellent traditional franchisee population as well as by working with nationally recognized non-traditional foodservice operators," Burr said.   

Long-term, Dunkin' Donuts aims to have more than 18,000 U.S. locations. The company currently has more than 12,500 restaurants in 46 countries worldwide.