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Dunkin’ Donuts offering incentives to fuel Dayton-area expansion
The Dunkin’ Donuts chain of coffee shop-restaurants wants to expand its presence in the Dayton area by opening as many as 18 locations and is offering incentives to prospective franchise owners to lead the charge.
Executives for the Massachusetts-based chain will host a franchise seminar to “share the benefits of owning a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant” from noon to 2 p.m. March 22 at the Doubletree Hotel at 11 S. Ludlow St. in downtown Dayton, according to Grant Benson, Dunkin’ Donuts’ vice president of franchising and market planning. Company officials are sponsoring a similar event in Toledo the following day.
“Dunkin’ Donuts is looking for qualified candidates with food-service, operations and real estate experience to join our team to help expand the brand’s footprint in Dayton and Toledo,” said Benson, a Cincinnati native.
The chain’s sole Dayton-area shop is at 7777 Springboro Pike (Ohio 741) in Miami Twp. just north of the Dayton Mall. The area had three or four other Dunkin’ Donut locations over the years, but those stores “came to the end of their leases” and closed, Benson said. He said he’d like to recruit three or so franchise groups that can commit to opening five to seven stores, for a total of 15 to 18 stores in the greater Miami Valley over the next six years. Each Dunkin’ Donuts store typically employs 20 to 25 people, Benson said.
“We think there’s a sweet spot there,” Benson said of the Dayton area. “The demographics are great from a consumer standpoint.” The Cincinnati area has more than 20 Dunkin’ Donut stores, he said.
A Dunkin’ Donuts news release says franchise-group candidates “should possess a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $250,000.” Benson said ideal candidates should have even greater resources because of the company’s desired commitment for the franchisee to open multiple stores.
Benson said the company is offering “special development incentives” which include a reduced initial franchising fee, reduced royalty fees for three years and an extra $10,000 in local store marketing.
Historically a doughnut and hot coffee chain, Dunkin’ Donuts has expanded its offerings in recent years to include frozen and iced beverages as well as bagels, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, buttermilk biscuits and flatbread sandwiches, company officials said. In 2010, the company opened 574 net new locations worldwide, including 206 net new restaurants in the U.S., and entered into 226 new signed franchise commitments in the U.S. It operates more than 9,700 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide.
To register for the franchising seminar, visit franchisingevents.dunkinbrands.com. For more information, contact Scott Mellon at scott.mellon@dunkinbrands.com.
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