History of Dunkin' Donuts in Timeline
Dunkin', formerly known as Dunkin' Donuts until 2019, is a renowned American multinational company specializing in coffee, donuts, and quick-service restaurant offerings. Established in 1950 by Bill Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts, the chain experienced significant growth in North America after its acquisition by Allied Lyons, Baskin-Robbins' holding company, in 1990. This expansion was further fueled by the acquisition and subsequent conversion of the Mister Donut chain into Dunkin' Donuts.
1948: Opening of Open Kettle
Bill Rosenberg opened "Open Kettle" in 1948, a restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts, that sold donuts and coffee.
1950: Name Change to Dunkin' Donuts
After discussions with company executives, the name of "Open Kettle" was changed to "Dunkin' Donuts" in 1950.
1950: Founding of Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts was founded in 1950 by Bill Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts. The idea came from his experience selling food in factories and construction sites, where donuts and coffee were the most popular items.
March 31, 1955: Script Version of Dunkin' Donuts Filed
On March 31, 1955, Dunkin' Donuts filed a script version of its name, which was later registered on February 2, 1960.
1955: Start of Franchising
Dunkin' Donuts began franchising in 1955 due to the success of the initial restaurant.
June 23, 1958: Logo Applied For
On June 23, 1958, Dunkin' Donuts applied for a logo featuring a figure with a donut head and coffee cup body, which was registered on May 23, 1961.
February 2, 1960: Script Version Registered
The script version of Dunkin' Donuts filed on March 31, 1955, was officially registered on February 2, 1960.
May 23, 1961: Logo Registered
The logo applied for on June 23, 1958, depicting a figure with a donut head and coffee cup body, was registered on May 23, 1961.
1961: Introduction of Hot Pink Branding
In 1961, Dunkin' Donuts began using hot pink in its branding and introduced a logo featuring a stylized coffee cup and donut.
1963: Expansion and Leadership Change
Dunkin' Donuts reached a milestone in 1963 by opening its 100th location. That same year, Bill Rosenberg's son, Bob, became CEO at the age of 25.
July 1, 1964: Logo Put into Use
The logo featuring a figure with a donut head and coffee cup body, registered on May 23, 1961, was put into use on July 1, 1964.
1968: Public Offering
Dunkin' Donuts went public in 1968.
1970: Dunkin' Donuts Enters Japan
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first store in Japan in 1970, marking its entry into the Asian market. The Japanese chain was a joint venture between the Saison Group, Yoshinoya, and Seiyo Food Systems, a subsidiary of the Compass Group.
1980: Addition of Bright Orange to Branding
In 1980, bright orange was added to the hot pink in Dunkin' Donuts' branding, resulting in a more vibrant logo.
1980: Dunkin' Donuts Launches in Brazil
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first store in Brazil in 1980.
1981: Dunkin' Donuts Launches in the Philippines
The first Dunkin' Donuts store in the Philippines opened in Makati in 1981 under the franchisee Golden Donuts Incorporated (GDI).
1983: Dunkin' Donuts Arrives in Colombia
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first store in Bogota, Colombia, in 1983.
1986: Dunkin' Donuts Expands Beyond Metro Manila
Dunkin' Donuts expanded its presence beyond Metro Manila, Philippines, when Queen City Food Chain, Inc. opened an outlet in Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City, in 1986.
1986: Dunkin' Donuts in Saudi Arabia
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first location in Saudi Arabia in 1986.
1990: Acquisition by Allied Lyons
Dunkin' Donuts was acquired by Allied Lyons, the owner of Baskin-Robbins, in 1990.
1990: Acquisition by Allied Lyons
In 1990, Allied Lyons, the holding company of Baskin-Robbins, acquired Dunkin' Donuts. The brand's growth in North America was further fueled by its acquisition of the Mister Donut chain and its subsequent conversion to Dunkin' Donuts that same year.
1991: Dunkin' Donuts Expands to Mindanao, Philippines
Dunkin' Donuts expanded its reach to Mindanao, Philippines, with the opening of its first two branches in Cagayan de Oro in 1991.
1996: Dunkin' Donuts Opens in Israel
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first location in Israel in Tel Aviv in 1996 and was a tremendous hit, selling 3 million donuts in the first eight months.
1997: Retirement of Fred the Baker
Actor Michael Vale, who played the iconic "Fred the Baker" in Dunkin' Donuts' "It's Worth the Trip" campaign, retired in 1997 after portraying the character for 16 years.
1997: Dunkindonuts.org Launched
In 1997, a customer created Dunkindonuts.org as a platform for disgruntled consumers and employees to voice complaints about Dunkin' Donuts.
1998: Dunkin' Donuts Exits Japan
After 28 years of operation, Dunkin' Donuts closed all its non-military base locations in Japan in 1998 due to declining sales. Most of these locations were either shut down or converted into Mister Donut stores. However, Dunkin' Donuts continued to operate on United States military bases, accessible only to military personnel.
1998: Global Expansion and Sales Milestone
By 1998, Dunkin' Donuts had expanded to 2,500 locations worldwide, generating $2 billion in annual sales.
1998: Dunkin' Donuts Opens First Store in Lebanon
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first location in Lebanon in 1998 and has since gained significant popularity, becoming one of the most popular coffee shops in the country.
1999: Dunkin' Donuts Acquires Dunkindonuts.org
Dunkindonuts.org, which gained national media attention and appeared higher in search results than the official company website, was purchased by Dunkin' Donuts in 1999.
2001: Dunkin' Donuts Opens in New Zealand
Dunkin' Donuts' first New Zealand store opened in Manukau, Auckland in 2001, followed by three others in Auckland the same year.
2001: Naming Rights Purchase
In 2001, Dunkin' Donuts purchased the naming rights for the former Providence Civic Center, renaming it the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The center serves as the home court for the Providence Friars men's basketball team and home ice for the AHL Providence Bruins hockey team, and is often referred to as 'The Dunk.'
2001: Dunkin' Donuts Israel Closes
In 2001, Dunkin' Donuts Israel decided to close after accumulating a large amount of debt and experiencing slowed tourism due to the Second Intifada.
2003: Discontinuation of the Handle Donut
Dunkin' Donuts discontinued its donut with a handle in 2003 (except in Singapore) because its hand-cut production method was less economical than machine-cut donuts.
2004: Formation of Dunkin' Brands
In 2004, Dunkin' Brands was established in Canton, Massachusetts, with Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins becoming its subsidiaries.
2004: Headquarters Relocation
The headquarters of Dunkin' Donuts were moved to Canton, Massachusetts, in 2004.
December 2005: Sale to Private Equity Consortium
Dunkin' Brands, operating as Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, was sold to a private equity group consisting of Bain Capital, Carlyle Group, and Thomas H. Lee Partners for $2.4 billion in December 2005.
March 2006: New Slogan: "America Runs on Dunkin'"
Dunkin' Donuts changed its slogan to "America Runs on Dunkin'" in March 2006.
2006: Dunkin' Donuts Faces Franchisee Criticism
Dunkin' Donuts was criticized by a franchisee, who alleged the company forced single-store owners into buyouts at a loss for minor violations. Between 2006 and April 2008, Dunkin' Donuts sued franchise owners 154 times, drawing comparisons to McDonald's five lawsuits and Subway's 12 lawsuits over the same period despite having significantly fewer locations.
2007: Dunkin' Donuts Rebrands to "Dunkin' Coffee" in Spain
After acquiring full ownership from its joint venture partner, Panrico, Dunkin' Donuts rebranded its stores in Spain to "Dunkin' Coffee" in 2007. This was due to a trademark conflict with Panrico, a Spanish bakery firm.
2007: Commercials Mocking Starbucks Ordering Language
Dunkin' Donuts aired commercials in 2007 that directly mocked Starbucks' ordering language, with one depicting a customer being chastised for using the word "large" instead of "dieci".
2007: Rachael Ray's Dunkin' Donuts Commercials
Rachael Ray began starring in commercials for Dunkin' Donuts in 2007, marking the start of her association with the brand.
April 2008: Dunkin' Donuts Faces Franchisee Criticism
Dunkin' Donuts was criticized by a franchisee, who alleged the company forced single-store owners into buyouts at a loss for minor violations. Between 2006 and April 2008, Dunkin' Donuts sued franchise owners 154 times, drawing comparisons to McDonald's five lawsuits and Subway's 12 lawsuits over the same period despite having significantly fewer locations.
May 2008: Controversial Commercial Removal
In May 2008, Dunkin' Donuts removed a commercial from its website featuring Rachael Ray wearing a scarf that columnist Michelle Malkin claimed resembled a keffiyeh worn by Yasser Arafat, which led to accusations of supporting terrorists. The company pulled the commercial, facing criticism for allegedly kowtowing to special interests.
2008: Dunkin' Donuts Enters China
In 2008, Dunkin' Donuts opened its first restaurant in Shanghai, marking the beginning of its expansion into the Chinese market.
March 2009: New Slogan and Ad Campaign
In March 2009, Dunkin' Donuts introduced the slogan 'You 'Kin Do It!' and launched a $100 million ad campaign to promote it.
May 2010: Dunkin' Donuts' "Free Iced Coffee Day" Controversy
Dunkin' Donuts faced criticism in May 2010 for advertising a "Free Iced Coffee Day" on its national Facebook page, which was only available in 13 cities. The limited scope of the promotion angered many customers who expressed their dissatisfaction on the company's Facebook page.
2010: Global Sales Reach $6 Billion
Dunkin' Donuts achieved global sales of $6 billion in 2010.
February 24, 2011: Dunkin' Donuts Signs Master Franchise Agreement for India
Dunkin' Donuts signed a master franchise agreement with Jubilant FoodWorks on February 24, 2011, granting the Indian food service company the rights to operate the brand in India.
April 2012: Dunkin' Donuts Opens First Store in India
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first store in India at Connaught Place, New Delhi, in April 2012.
January 16, 2013: California Expansion Announcement
On January 16, 2013, Dunkin' Brands CEO Nigel Travis announced that Dunkin' Donuts franchises would be available in California beginning in 2015.
June 2013: New Store Design Unveiled
Dunkin' Donuts revealed a new store design in June 2013, marking its first design update in nearly seven years.
July 2013: 500th Restaurant in New York City
In July 2013, Dunkin' Donuts opened its 500th restaurant in New York City, which is a combination Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins store.
July 2013: Southern California Franchise Agreements
In July 2013, Dunkin' Donuts signed its first Southern California multi-unit store development agreements with four franchise groups, committing to 45 new restaurants.
2013: Dunkin' Donuts Thailand's Controversial Advertisement
In 2013, Dunkin' Donuts Thailand was criticized for an advertisement featuring a woman in blackface to promote its new chocolate-flavored donuts. The ad sparked backlash, with Human Rights Watch deeming it "bizarre and racist," leading to an apology from the company's headquarters in the United States.
2013: Dunkin' Donuts' Expansion Plans in Brazil
In 2013, Dunkin' Donuts announced plans to open 25 new franchises in Brazil as part of its expansion strategy.
January 2014: Dunkin' Donuts Returns to England
In January 2014, after a 20-year absence, Dunkin' Donuts re-entered the English market with a store opening in Harrow, London.
January 2014: Petition for Dunkin' Donuts Food Donation
In January 2014, Nancy Lewis from Canaan, Connecticut, started a petition urging Dunkin' Donuts to donate unsold food to local shelters and food banks after observing her local store discarding large amounts of edible food.
January 2014: Partnership with Liverpool FC
In January 2014, English football club Liverpool announced a multimillion-pound global partnership with Dunkin' Donuts.
March 10, 2014: First Combination Store in Southern California
On March 10, 2014, the first Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins combination store in Southern California opened in Ramona.
March 2014: Dunkin' Donuts' International Expansion
By March 2014, South Korea was Dunkin' Donuts' largest international market, with over 900 outlets, surpassing McDonald's and Starbucks. The company also had plans for expansion in China, with 50 stores and an agreement to open 100 more within five years.
March 2014: Expansion in California
Since March 2014, Dunkin' Donuts has opened several additional locations throughout California, including in the Los Angeles area.
November 2014: Dunkin' Donuts Expands to Kanpur, India
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first store in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, inside Z Square Mall in November 2014, marking its expansion beyond major metropolitan areas in India.
December 5, 2014: Dunkin' Donuts Expands to the Nordic Region
Dunkin' Donuts opened its first store in the Nordic region on December 5, 2014, located in the Täby Centrum shopping mall near Stockholm, Sweden.
2014: Return to Minnesota
In 2014, Dunkin' Donuts returned to Minnesota after nearly a decade's absence, opening a new shop inside the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester.
2014: Current Logo Variation
As of 2014, Dunkin' Donuts' logo is a variation of the design introduced around 1980, featuring an all-capitals rendering of 'Dunkin' Donuts' with 'Dunkin'' in orange and 'Donuts' in pink, along with a coffee cup outline.
2014: Dunkin' Donuts' Absence from Australia
By 2014, Dunkin' Donuts had no presence in Australia after exiting the market in the late 2000s. Despite this, its subsidiary, Baskin-Robbins, continued to operate in the country.
April 1, 2015: Dunkin' Donuts Opens in Denmark
Dunkin' Donuts expanded its presence in Scandinavia by opening its first store in Denmark on April 1, 2015, at Copenhagen Central Station.
May 5, 2015: Dunkin' Donuts' Second Store in Denmark
On May 5, 2015, Dunkin' Donuts opened its second store in Denmark, located at Roskilde railway station.
September 2015: Dunkin' Donuts Announces Swiss Expansion
In September 2015, Roland Zanelli, the owner of the Dunkin' Donuts license in Switzerland, revealed plans to open the first two stores in Basel during Fall 2015, with the potential for up to 60 stores nationwide.
December 2015: NWHL Sponsorship Deal
In December 2015, Dunkin' Donuts signed a sponsorship deal with the National Women's Hockey League, becoming the official hot, iced, and frozen coffee of the NWHL.
December 2015: Dunkin' Donuts Returns to Poland
After a 13-year hiatus, Dunkin' Donuts reopened in Poland with its first cafe in Warsaw in early December 2015.
2015: Cyberattacks on Dunkin' Mobile App Users
In early 2015, a series of cyberattacks targeted customers using the Dunkin' mobile app, compromising thousands of usernames and passwords.
2015: California and Texas Expansion
In 2015, Dunkin' Donuts planned to open its first standalone restaurants in Orange and Los Angeles counties, and expand into more stores in Texas.
2015: Dunkin' Donuts' Growth in Colombia
By 2015, Dunkin' Donuts had expanded its presence in Colombia to over 100 stores, primarily in the capital city of Bogota.
January 2016: Dunkin' Donuts' Expansion Plans in Poland
Following the opening of its first location in Warsaw, Dunkin' Donuts announced plans to open a second store in the city in January 2016.
January 21, 2016: Dunkin' Donuts Announces South Africa Expansion
On January 21, 2016, Dunkin' Brands signed a master franchise agreement with Grand Parade Investments Ltd. to open 250 Dunkin' Donuts and 70 Baskin-Robbins outlets across South Africa.
March 1, 2016: Dunkin' Donuts Opens First Store in Switzerland
The first Dunkin' Donuts store in Switzerland opened in Basel on March 1, 2016.
December 2016: Curbside Pickup Pilot Program
The Dunkin' Donuts location in Natick, Massachusetts, launched a pilot program in December 2016 to test the concept of curbside pickup.
2016: NHL Partnership
In 2016, Dunkin' Donuts became the official 'coffee, donut, and breakfast sandwich partner' of the National Hockey League.
2016: New Bay Area Locations
In 2016, Dunkin' Donuts opened new shops in the San Francisco Bay Area in Walnut Creek, Half Moon Bay, and American Canyon.
February 9, 2017: Franchisee Ownership
As of February 9, 2017, all Dunkin' locations are franchisee owned and operated.
2017: Dunkin' Coffee's Presence in Spain
As of 2017, there were 59 Dunkin' Coffee locations in Spain, primarily concentrated in Barcelona, Madrid, and Málaga. The brand adopted the slogan "Juntos es mejor," meaning "Together is better" in Spanish.
2017: Dunkin' Donuts Expands in New Zealand
By 2017, Dunkin' Donuts had expanded to 12 stores in Auckland and two other cities in New Zealand.
2017: Dunkin' Donuts' Decline in Canada
By mid-2017, Dunkin' Donuts had only three franchises remaining in Canada, all located in Quebec. This marked a significant decline from its peak of 210 stores. The company faced strong competition from Tim Hortons, leading to a decrease in market share and eventual exit from the Canadian market.
2017: Further Expansion in Bay Area
In 2017, Dunkin' Donuts continued its expansion in the San Francisco Bay Area, opening shops in South San Francisco and Fremont.
2017: Testing 'Dunkin'' Name
In 2017, Dunkin' Donuts started testing the name 'Dunkin'' at selected locations to see if it would better position the brand as a coffee destination.
January 2018: New Concept Stores and "Dunkin'" Signage Trial
In January 2018, Dunkin' Donuts started opening new concept locations, the first being in Quincy, Massachusetts, featuring modern decor, cold beverages on tap, single-cup brewing machines, more packaged takeout options, and dedicated pickup lines for mobile orders. This concept was part of a shift toward becoming an "on-the-go, beverage-led brand". Additionally, the Quincy location and others began testing signage that referred to the chain simply as "Dunkin'", dropping "Donuts" from the name.
February 2018: Announcement to Phase Out Polystyrene Foam Cups
Dunkin' announced in February 2018 its plans to phase out polystyrene foam cups globally by April 2020 for environmental reasons.
April 2018: New Advertising Agency
In April 2018, Dunkin' Donuts named BBDO as their primary advertising agency, replacing Hill Holliday, which had been responsible for their advertising for almost twenty years. ARC/Leo Burnett was also named to lead all in-store promotions.
April 2018: Collaboration with Saucony
In April 2018, Dunkin' Donuts collaborated with Massachusetts-based shoe manufacturer Saucony to create a strawberry-frosted donut themed running shoe for the 122nd Boston Marathon. The shoe, named Saucony X Dunkin' Kinvara 9, came in a donut box and featured a heel covered in rainbow sprinkles.
July 2018: New CEO and Expansion Plans
Dave Hoffmann became CEO in July 2018, succeeding Nigel Travis. Hoffmann aimed to add 1,000 new locations outside the Northeastern United States by the end of 2020 and increase revenue by 3 percent for stores open a year or longer.
July 24, 2018: Dunkin' Donuts Exits Sweden
On July 24, 2018, Dunkin' Donuts announced the closure of all its stores in Sweden and the bankruptcy of its Swedish operations.
September 2018: Dunkin' Donuts Exits Canada
Dunkin' Donuts ceased operations in Canada in September 2018 after 57 years, following a decline in market share and competition from Tim Hortons. The company refused to renew franchise licenses, leading to the closure or rebranding of all remaining Canadian locations.
September 2018: Rebranding to 'Dunkin''
In September 2018, Dunkin' Donuts announced it would shorten its name to 'Dunkin'' to reflect its focus on beverages. The wider roll-out of this rebranding began in January 2019.
September 2018: Rebranding to 'Dunkin''
In September 2018, the company announced it would be known simply as 'Dunkin'' to emphasize its focus on coffee. The rebranding would be implemented more broadly in the latter half of 2018 if successful.
December 2018: Dunkin' Donuts Continues Expansion in Poland
By December 2018, construction for a third Dunkin' Donuts branch was underway in Warsaw, indicating continued growth in the Polish market.
January 2019: Wider Roll-Out of 'Dunkin'' Rebranding
In January 2019, Dunkin' Donuts began the wider roll-out of its rebranding to 'Dunkin'', reflecting a shift towards being a beverage-led brand.
February 2019: Dunkin' Donuts Exits South Africa
Due to poor performance and unprofitability, Grand Parade Investments announced the closure of all Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins locations in South Africa in February 2019.
June 2019: Partnership with Grubhub for Dunkin' Delivers
Dunkin' partnered with Grubhub in June 2019 to launch its new Dunkin' Delivers service.
July 2019: Partnership with Beyond Meat
Dunkin' partnered with Beyond Meat in July 2019 to introduce a meatless breakfast sandwich in Manhattan, making it the first U.S. restaurant brand to offer Beyond Sausage. The sandwich was later launched nationwide in 2019.
September 2019: Lawsuit Alleging Mishandling of Cyberattacks
The New York attorney general's office filed a lawsuit in September 2019 alleging that Dunkin' mishandled a series of cyberattacks targeting customers using the Dunkin' mobile app in early 2015. The attacks resulted in thousands of stolen usernames and passwords. The lawsuit claimed Dunkin' employees were aware of the attacks but failed to take appropriate action.
2019: Dunkin' Donuts Rebrands as "Dunkin'"
In January 2019, Dunkin' Donuts began rebranding as a "beverage-led company" and changed its name to "Dunkin'". While stores in the U.S. started using the new name, the company plans to eventually implement the rebranding across all its international locations.
2019: Kosher Certification
As of 2019, 40 Dunkin' Donuts shops in the United States were certified fully kosher, in addition to one that sells both kosher-certified and non-kosher products.
December 31, 2019: Dunkin' Donuts' Footprint in India
As of December 31, 2019, Dunkin' Donuts had 32 outlets spread across 10 cities in India, indicating a measured growth strategy in the country.
April 2020: Target Date for Polystyrene Foam Cup Elimination
Dunkin' set April 2020 as the target date to complete the global phase-out of polystyrene foam cups.
July 30, 2020: Announcement of Store Closures
On July 30, 2020, Dunkin' Brands announced it would permanently close 800 shops in the US by the end of the year due to a 20 percent drop in sales in the second quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic. 450 of these closures were part of a previously announced plan to close locations within Speedway gas stations.
October 2020: Negotiations with Inspire Brands
Dunkin' Brands confirmed in October 2020 that they were in discussions with Inspire Brands, a private equity-backed company, regarding a potential sale.
October 31, 2020: Acquisition Announcement by Inspire Brands
Inspire Brands announced on October 31, 2020, that it would acquire Dunkin' Brands Group for $11.3 billion, including the assumption of Dunkin' Brands' debt. Inspire Brands agreed to pay $106.50 in cash for each share of Dunkin' Brands.
December 15, 2020: Acquisition by Inspire Brands
Dunkin' Brands, the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, was acquired by Inspire Brands on December 15, 2020. This ended Dunkin' Brands' run as a separate entity, and Dunkin', Baskin-Robbins, and the trademark management of Mister Donut became part of Inspire Brands.
2020: Target Year for Expansion and Revenue Growth
Dunkin' aimed to complete the addition of 1,000 new locations and achieve a 3 percent revenue increase for established stores by the end of 2020.
2020: Dunkin' Lebanon Expands Retail Presence
In 2020, Dunkin' Lebanon expanded its distribution channels by making its products available in supermarkets and grocery stores across the country.
January 2021: Dunkin' Opens First Drive-Thru Store in the Philippines
Dunkin' opened its first drive-thru store in the Philippines in January 2021, located on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.
October 2022: Dunkin' Donuts in Saudi Arabia
As of October 2022, Dunkin' Donuts operates over 500 stores in Saudi Arabia and plans to operate more than 600 by the end of 2022 due to the high coffee demand.
2022: Dunkin' Donuts' Continued Presence in New Zealand
Dunkin' Donuts had 15 stores in Auckland and three other cities in New Zealand by 2022.
February 2023: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Commercials
In February 2023, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez starred in commercials for Dunkin' Donuts, with the first ad airing during Super Bowl LVII. They later appeared in a follow-up commercial during Super Bowl LVIII, alongside Matt Damon and Tom Brady. The chain also announced a limited-time addition of Affleck's specific order to its menu.
August 2023: Dunkin' Becomes Largest Coffee Operator in the Philippines
In mid-August 2023, Dunkin' opened its 800th store in the Philippines, located in Laoag, solidifying its position as the largest coffee operator in the country.