Gilligan Oil was founded in 1993. It operates TCBY, Subway and Popeyes franchises, Gills Car Washes [image-nocss] and is the regional franchise developer for the Exxon/Mobil "On the Run" convenience store franchise. In addition, Gilligan Oil is southwestern Ohio's largest distributor of Shell-branded gasoline and also operates Sunoco and Exxon gas stations.
"We are proud to expand our franchise portfolio to include Dunkin' Donuts and look forward to playing an important role in the daily lives of people who live and work in the Cincinnati community," said Pat Gilligan, president and CEO of Gilligan Oil, Cincinnati.
To complement the Cincinnati development agreement mentioned, Dunkin' Donuts' seeks new and existing franchisees to develop restaurants in Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Columbus. In order to drive its expansion efforts, Dunkin' Donuts has aligned its strategy to support the growth opportunities and consumer needs of individual markets. As a result, franchising opportunities range from large store development agreements to a minimum of one or two units, it said. This evolution of Dunkin' Donuts' franchise development effort enables the brand to expand in markets more aggressively, while balancing its market penetration and maturity, it added.
Franchising opportunities are also available in a variety of U.S. cities in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. Opportunities exist throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan, among other states.
Building a solid network of stores within a market enables Dunkin' Donuts to invest in a distribution model that provides a consistent, high-quality product, said Grant Benson, CFE, vice president of franchise sales, Dunkin' Brands Inc., Canton, Ohio.
In an effort to keep the brand fresh and competitive, Dunkin' Donuts' portfolio of development options offers flexible concepts for any real-estate format including freestanding stores, end caps, in-line sites, gasoline and convenience, travel plazas, universities, as well as other retail environments.
Historically a doughnut and hot coffee chain, Dunkin' Donuts has expanded its offering to include frozen and iced beverages, a full bakery assortment including bagels and muffins, breakfast sandwiches and an all-day oven-toasted menu that includes flatbread sandwiches, hash browns and buttermilk biscuits. The new platform marks the most significant change to Dunkin' Donuts product lineup since the company launched espresso-based beverages in 2003.
The company has more than 8,800 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide, with more than 5,400 locations in 34 states. In 2008, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $5.5 billion.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.