Dunkin’ Donuts, the world’s leading baked goods and coffee chain, is continuing its steady expansion around the globe, announcing today that the Company has signed an agreement with Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. to enter the Indian market. The master franchise agreement calls for Jubilant FoodWorks to develop, sub-franchise, and operate more than 500 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout India over the next 15 years. The first Dunkin’ Donuts locations are expected to open by early 2012. The Agreement marks the largest international store development commitment in Dunkin’ Donuts’ history.
At an official contract signing ceremony at Hotel Oberoi in Delhi today, Dunkin’ Brands’ Chief Executive Officer and Dunkin’ Donuts’ President Nigel Travis officially welcomed Jubilant FoodWorks, headed by Chief Executive Officer Ajay Kaul, as Dunkin’ Donuts’ newest international master franchisee. Jubilant FoodWorks has extensive experience in the Indian restaurant industry, holding the master franchisee rights for Domino’s Pizza for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
With 574 net new global restaurant openings in 2010, more than any other quick service restaurant (QSR) concept, Dunkin’ Donuts has approximately 9,700 restaurants on four continents and expects to open its 3,000th international location this month. The Company’s 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. The Company opened its first eight restaurants in Russia in 2010 and has opened more than 70 restaurants in greater China since 2007.
According to Nigel Travis, expansion to India is an integral part of Dunkin’ Donuts’ international growth plan. “As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and the second most populous country, India presents a tremendous growth opportunity for Dunkin’ Donuts. We are especially delighted that we are entering the country with Jubilant FoodWorks, a world-class food service company,” said Mr. Travis. “With a deep understanding of the Indian consumer, solid operational expertise and best-in-class marketing, Jubilant will play a key role in delivering on our goal to bring Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, baked goods and snacks to more people around the globe. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial alliance.”
“Dunkin’ Donuts is one of the world’s pre-eminent and fastest-growing food service brands,” said Mr. Shyam S. Bhartia, Chairman, and Mr. Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman, Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. “We are proud to be the newest Dunkin’ Donuts international franchisee and look forward to introducing Dunkin’ Donuts’ outstanding beverages, baked goods and snacks, along with their quality service and great value, to people throughout India.”
Dunkin’ Donuts and Jubilant FoodWorks will work together to offer customers a menu that combines Dunkin’ Donuts’ renowned coffee, espresso-based drinks, baked goods and other snacks, along with products specially tailored for the Indian market.
Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, already has presence in India. Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, with more than 6,400 locations around the globe, opened its 400th shop in India in 2010 and expects to open approximately 60 additional locations in the region this year. In January, Baskin-Robbins India launched a convenient home delivery service for ice cream lovers in Mumbai and plans to expand this service to several other key cities. Baskin-Robbins India was also recently awarded the title of “Most Popular Brand of Ice Cream in India” by the Global Youth Marketing Forum for its 2010 marketing efforts.