Dunkin' Pursuing More Non-Traditional Franchises

CANTON, Mass. – Dunkin' Brands Group Inc. is looking for franchisees to open more non-traditional locations, including inside convenience stores, the company discussed during a March 20 webcast. These locations could feature Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins together or individually.

The company considers a non-traditional location to be one that has a captured audience or a location where the primary purpose of the visit is something other than making a Dunkin' Donuts or Baskin Robbins purchase.

Dunkin' Brands has opened 12 new non-traditional locations in 2014 so far, including inside a Pilot Travel Center in Des Moines, Iowa, and inside a WilcoHess station in Madison Heights, Va. The company currently has more than 600 non-traditional locations in the United States.

"Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins' non-traditional offerings are located at airport and other mass transportation terminals, casinos and resorts, hospitals, stadiums, grocery stores, military bases, and colleges and universities. [They] are positioned to address consumer demand in environments within established trade areas," said Grant Benson, vice president of global franchising and business development for Dunkin' Brands. "Both brands share the same vision of conveniently delivering high-quality food and beverages in a welcoming environment, quickly and at affordable prices."

Non-traditional Dunkin' Brands locations can be scaled depending on the market and space available. Formats include:

• "Inline," with a full menu and customer seating;
• "The kiosk," which offers a full menu and has seating, but faces space constraints; and
• "The cart," with offers a limited menu and often serves as a second overflow unit in larger areas, such as an airport.

Company officials noted that Dunkin' Brands prefers to work with existing traditional franchisee partners on opening non-traditional locations when possible, but will also consider new franchisees. If new, franchisees must have quick-service restaurant (QSR)/foodservice experience and may include commercial foodservice operators, existing QSR operators with non-traditional location experience, and operators of locations with existing foodservice who can incorporate Dunkin' Donuts or Baskin Robbins into their operations.