Dunkin’ Brands Looks Westward

Dunkin’ Brands went public in July 2011 and the chain is opening up about future plans. Over the next two years, the Canton, Mass., company plans to open as many as 250 Dunkin’ Donuts shops in the U.S., especially west of the Mississippi.

The chain, which has been in a fight with Starbucks and McDonald’s for the loyalty of coffee drinkers, opened more U.S. locations last year than any restaurant except Subway. During the first six months of 2011, Dunkin’ Brands’ franchisees and licensees opened 234 net new Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins locations on a global basis.

In addition, the brand will expand beyond its current focus in Asia and into Europe, beyond the company’s base of Germany, Russia and Spain

CEO Nigel Travis told analysts that he’s renewed focus on Baskin-Robbins, reaching out to franchisees, introducing new technology to their operations, and cutting the fields of operations managers to allow them to focus on 50 stores each instead of 120.