Dunkin’ Donuts Forges Big Deal In India

In its largest-ever international development agreement, Dunkin’ Donuts has inked a deal to open 500 restaurants in India over the next 15 years. The Canton, Mass., chain signed the agreement with Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd., calling for Jubilant to develop, sub-franchise and operate more than 500 DD restaurants throughout India. The first units in the world’s second most populous country will offer Dunkin’ Donut’s established menu and products specially tailored for the Indian market.

Jubilant also holds the master franchisee rights for Domino’s Pizza for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Dunkin’ is already setting a record building pace, reporting 574 net new global restaurant openings in 2010. The company has approximately 9,700 restaurants on four continents and expects to open its 3,000th international location this month. Its entry into India follows its expansion over the past several years throughout Europe, the Middle East, Latin and South America as well as the Asia-Pacific market. Dunkin’ opened its first eight restaurants in Russia in ’10, and has opened more than 70 restaurants in greater China since ’07.

Parent company Dunkin’ Brands already has a presence in India with Baskin-Robbins. It opened store no. 400 there last year and expects another 60 or so additional locations in the region in ’11. In January, Baskin-Robbins India launched home delivery in Mumbai and plans to expand this service to several other key cities.