Dunkin' Brands Reports 'Excellent' 2014 Unit Count Growth

CANTON, Mass. — Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.'s U.S. franchisees opened a total of 422 net new Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins locations in 2014. This makes it one of the fastest-growing quick-service restaurant (QSR) companies by unit count, the company announced Thursday.

"This past year was another excellent year for domestic restaurant development for both of our brands and has resulted in Dunkin' Brands once again being one of the fastest-growing companies by unit count in the QSR industry," stated Nigel Travis, chairman and CEO of Dunkin' Brands.

Dunkin' Donuts opened 405 net new restaurants in new markets such as California, Colorado and Nevada in 2014, with 97 percent of domestic growth coming from existing franchisees. California remains a focus of growth, and the company is on track to open approximately 250 new restaurants in California over the next few years. Its long-term goal is to have 1,000 restaurants in total throughout the state.

Dunkin' Donuts also signed agreements with franchisees to open new future restaurants in markets such as northern, central and southern California; Oklahoma City; Louisville, Ky.; Phoenix; Greensboro, N.C.; and Wichita, Kan.

Existing locations also saw quite a few changes in 2014, as franchisees remodeled 482 restaurants in accordance with new restaurant design options unveiled in 2013. Additionally, Dunkin' Donuts announced the launch of DD Green Achievement, a green building program designed to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants. The company expects to have 100 new DD Green restaurants across the United States by the end of 2016.

"We believe these results are directly attributable to the appeal of our two strong consumer brands and our continued focus on franchisee unit economics," Travis said. "For 2015 in the U.S., we expect to open between 410 and 440 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and between five to 10 net Baskin-Robbins locations."