Dunkin’ Donuts returns to the UK after 20 year hiatus

Brand is going head to head with American rival Krispy Kreme

(Jesper Mattias)

The bad press for sugar hasn’t dented American brand Dunkin’ Donuts plan to return to the UK after a 20 year break.

Dunkin’ Donuts has opened five shops this year after making its debut in Harrow and is in talks with WH Smith and Welcome Break to open further outposts.

New sites to come will be in Wood Green this month and St Albans which will open tomorrow. The St Albans store will be its first UK “combi” store comprising both its Baskin-Robbins ice cream and Dunkin Donuts brands.

The NASDAQ-listed group opens stores via franchise partners and sells its donuts, coffee, sandwiches, and ice cream in 60 countries worldwide.

Nigel Travis, chairman and chief executive, said: “We are very franchise friendly and focused on their economics.”

He said the group needs to get to 30-40 outlets to lift its “brand impressions” here in the UK and plans more than 100 Dunkin’ Donuts outlets over the next five years. It already has 144 Baskin-Robbins outlets in the UK.

WH Smith has agreed to sell its donuts in five station stores – including Euston and Paddington - and Mr Travis plans to do more with the high street retailer. Mr Travis said he is also in talks with another well-known retailer.

A deal with Yorkshire-based petrol station operator Spring Petroleum will see it open 25 outlets in the north-west.

Mr Travis added: “The trick to expansion for a new brand is airports, train stations and motorways – high footfall areas to give us brand presence.” The group, which was founded in 1950, announced plans to return to the UK last year.

The brand is going head to head with American rival Krispy Kreme which first opened in the UK in 2003 as well as coffee and sandwich chains from Subway to Costa Coffee.