Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. on Monday is expected to announce the latest franchise agreements to bring the Dunkin’ Donuts brand back to California, the company told Nation’s Restaurant News on Friday.
Four franchisees are the latest to commit to the development of 29 new units, bringing the number of Dunkin’ Donuts planned for California to more than 300 over the next several years.
So far, however, about 25 Dunkin’ Donuts locations have opened since the Canton, Mass.-based chain returned to California in 2012. The state that once had dozens of outlets in the 1990s, but all had closed by the early 2000s.
More recently, however, the coffee-and-doughnut chain, beloved on the East Coast, has been pushing West again. Nigel Travis, Dunkin’ Brands CEO, has said the U.S. has room for as many as 17,000 Dunkin’ Donuts locations, with about 1,000 in California alone.
Grant Benson, Dunkin’ Brands vice president of global franchising and development, said the company has been pleased with the expansion into the West Coast, especially considering that the first traditional unit to return to California opened in 2014. The 2012 unit was on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base near San Diego.
“We are excited about our progress in California, and we’ve approached our development strategically as we introduce the West Coast to our delicious hot and iced coffee beverages, sandwiches and baked goods,” he said.
The latest franchise agreements include:
• Golden Gate Restaurant Group LLC, led by Matt Cobo, plans to develop 12 locations in the San Francisco Bay area within Contra Costa County. Their first location is scheduled to open later this year.
• Far North Ventures LLC has agreed to develop 10 units in Chico, Redding, Yreka and Eureka. Led by partners Pietro Saviotti and Rick Lavezzo, this group’s first restaurant is expected to open in 2017.
• The husband-and-wife team of Mohammed and Shanaz Hussain, have agreed to open two Dunkin’ Donuts in Upper Lakes and Ukiah, with the first location opening later this year.
• Glen and Kirsten Tharp of Coastal Foods Group Inc., along with partner Payman Khania, plan to open five units in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with the first opening next year.
In fiscal 2015, Dunkin’ Donuts added 349 new locations across the U.S. The nearly all-franchised Dunkin’ Donuts chain has more than 11,700 restaurants in 43 countries.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]
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