Dunkin Donuts comes out with new Ad Campaign

The new campaign, which includes print, TV, and digital ads, is the chain’s latest effort to one-up its biggest rivals, Starbucks and McDonald’s, in the java wars. The ads mostly feature everyday people who were picked as part of a nationwide casting call in November, which drew 1,000 people.

Among the ads’ pitchmen are two firefighters from Georgia who, when asked, “What are you drinkin’?’’ respond: “I’m drinkin’ Dunkin’.’’

Dan Saia, vice president of consumer engagement at Dunkin’ Donuts, a unit of privately owned Dunkin’ Brands Inc. in Canton, said the campaign is designed to let real customers tell the Dunkin’ Donuts story.

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Dunkin’ Donuts percolating in Milwaukee

Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a multi-unit store-development agreement with the Milwaukee Coffee Brewing Company. The deal entails a plan to open 36 new restaurants in the central and southern parts of Milwaukee.
The units will be under the operation of six existing Northeast Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees, who are partners of the MCBC. They currently run more than 370 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in metro and upstate New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.

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Baskin-Robbins Names Vice President of Marketing

PRESS RELEASE: CANTON, Mass., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Baskin-Robbins, America's favorite neighborhood ice cream shop, today announced the appointment of Brian O'Mara as Vice President of Marketing USA. He will report directly to Srinivas Kumar, Chief Brand Operating Officer for Baskin-Robbins Worldwide. He will also consult with John Costello, Chief Global Customer & Marketing Officer for Dunkin' Brands, Inc.

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Former Dunkin' exec files $5M lawsuit claiming ruined reputation

A former top executive at Dunkin’ Brands who helped assemble the chain’s culinary dream team has filed a $5 million lawsuit that accuses the company of violating a separation agreement by providing negative references, ruining his reputation with defamatory statements, and causing the loss of multiple job opportunities.

Michael O’Donovan, a European master chef who served the Queen of England, worked as vice president of global research and development for Dunkin’ from May 2004 through July 2007, overseeing the hiring of Boston chef Stan Frankenthaler, a makeover of the menu, and the long journey to eliminate transfats from doughnuts.

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Starbucks Reaches Agreement Paul Twohig/Dunkin Donuts Case

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) announced that it is pleased that the company and Mr. Twohig have resolved the lawsuit it filed against him. As part of the settlement Mr. Twohig will complete initial training but will otherwise not work at Dunkin' until January 15, 2010. In addition Starbucks will be paid $500,000. Mr. Twohig also reconfirmed his commitments not to share Starbucks trade secrets and other confidential information with Dunkin' at any time. We are pleased that the settlement allows both parties to move forward without protracted litigation.

Starbucks sues defector to Dunkin’

WILMINGTON, Del. - Starbucks Corp., the largest coffee-shop operator, has sued a former executive, claiming he violated a noncompetition agreement by becoming Dunkin’ Donuts Inc.’s brand operations officer.

Paul Twohig was a senior vice president at Starbucks until March, responsible for the Southeast division. He violated an agreement that barred him from working for a direct rival for 18 months after his departure, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Seattle.

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Dunkin' Donuts Pres to Step Down

[2009-10-02] Dunkin' Donuts announced that president and chief brand officer William Kussell will leave the company at the end of the year.
With Kussell's departure, Dunkin' Brands CEO Nigel Travis will also assume the role of Dunkin' Donuts president.
"In the 15 years since Will joined Dunkin' Donuts, the company has grown from a regional donut chain with about 3,000 stores into the number one coffee and baked goods brand worldwide with more than 8,800 stores in 31 countries," says Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands CEO.

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Canadian doughnut chain enters NYC doughnut wars

For a sip of hot chocolate and his preferred pastry fix, the 32-year-old Manhattan lawyer has driven 100 miles (160 kilometers) to Meriden, Connecticut, to what was then the closest Tim Hortons, a beloved Canadian chain that sells coffee and baked goods.
Abella, a Toronto native, now has an easier time satisfying his cravings. Earlier this month, Tim Hortons opened its first New York City locations, replacing 11 Dunkin' Donuts in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Canadian-doughnut-chain-apf-3983613882.html?x=0&.v=4

Dunkin' Donuts Adds Nontraditional Florida Sites

[2009-07-15] Dunkin' Donuts announced the addition of 24 nontraditional locations across Florida: six locations in Florida Turnpike travel plazas; 14 locations at airports, including nine at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, two at Southwest Florida International Airport, two at Miami International Airport, and one unit at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport; and one unit on the Palm Beach Community College campus, with additional locations planned to open at Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University by 2010.

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http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=8966&utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

13 NYC Dunkin’ stores switch to Tim Hortons

NEW YORK (July 8, 2009) The Riese Organization, a longtime multi-concept franchisee in New York City, is converting all 13 of its Dunkin’ Donuts stores to the Tim Hortons brand, president and chief executive Dennis Riese said Wednesday.
Riese said he plans to close the Dunkin’ locations on Friday and reopen the stores July 13 under the Tim Hortons banner. Riese and Dunkin’ had come to an agreement about five years ago that required the termination of a franchise partnership by July 31.

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http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=369534&menu_id=1368

Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee files for Ch. 11

GREER, S.C. (July 7, 2009) Kainos Partners Holding Co. LLC, operator of 56 Dunkin’ Donuts locations in New York, South Carolina and Nevada, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, citing the economic downturn and shrunken consumer spending.
The Greer-based company, which was formed in 2005 and also operates a central manufacturing location to produce doughnuts and baked goods for all Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in the Buffalo, N.Y., market, has an additional eight stores under construction. It is one of the largest Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees and employs about 700 people

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http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=369470

Dunkin’ Donuts pulls drinks in salmonella concern

Dunkin' Donuts has temporarily stopped selling hot chocolate and Dunkaccino brand beverages after learning equipment used at a supplier's facility might have been contaminated with salmonella.
The Canton, Mass.-based company said Tuesday none of its products was contaminated and the withdrawal of the beverages from its stores was a precaution to ensure customer safety. It has about 6,400 franchised restaurants in the United States and says it serves 3 million customers a day.

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http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/30/dunkin-donuts-pulls-drinks-in-salmonella-concern/

Dunkin' Donuts looks to ease coffee run with new site, iPhone app

A Q&A with Dunkin' CEO Nigel Travis

Turnpike welcomes Dunkin' Donuts, tells Starbucks to hit the road

Analysis Profiles McDonald's, Starbucks Coffee Drinkers

Friends don't let Friends drink Starbucks

Here is a taste test done between Starbucks, McDonalds, and Dunkin Donuts. Where Tim Hortons?