Dunkin' Donuts is intensifying its revitalized presence in Minnesota, announcing on Thursday that 10 outlets are in the works for the Twin Cities area.
Franchisee Legacy Concepts agreed with Dunkin' to open franchises starting "by the end of this year" in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and other west metro communities, the nation's largest doughnut-and-coffee chain said.
"We are excited to expand the brand's presence in Minnesota," Damon Dranchak, vice president and general manager for Legacy Concepts, said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "We … look forward to opening our restaurants in the years to come."
The 7,000-unit chain, headquartered in suburban Boston and operating since the 1950s, has been steadily expanding its sandwich and wrap offerings in an effort to counter competitors such as Starbucks and Brooklyn Center-based Caribou.
Last summer, Dunkin' Donuts ended a nearly 10-year hiatus from Minnesota, with the opening of an outlet at the Kahler Grand Hotel in downtown Rochester.
Within weeks, another franchisee revealed plans to build Dunkin' outlets across northern Minnesota, from Brainerd to the Iron Range to the Duluth area, with the first opening in mid-2015 near Miller Hill Mall in Duluth.
Franchise deals in this industry don't come cheap. When Dunkin' Donuts hosted a webinar last year for potential franchisees, the company said that prospects needed $250,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of at least $500,000.
Legacy Concepts "has years of experience" in the commercial real estate industry, Dunkin' Donuts said in its announcement, noting that Dranchak has worked in the fast-food industry for more than a quarter-century.
