Dunkin’ Donuts sweet on success for UK return

Dunkin' Donuts: Aiming to take on Krispy Kreme

Dunkin’ Donuts, the fast food chain which has made a huge impression on the waistlines of America thanks to its baked delicacies, has announced plans to return the UK.

Two decades after the firm abandoned its presence on these shores, it expressed confidence that its “broader range” of goods – including bagels, sandwiches, Danish pastries and muffins – will win over British customers.

It comes as another US rival, Krispy Kreme, has enjoyed significant success with its international expansion, with hundreds of people queuing for hours when it opened a branch in Edinburgh.

However, food critics questioned whether the revival of Dunkin’ Donuts would prove a success, warning that the lunch market has changed significantly since the 1990s and that consumers are much more health- conscious.

The chain, which has around 10,500 branches in 31 countries around the world, has promised a British twist on a menu beloved by millions of Americans, although its traditional hearty fare, including glazed doughnuts, will feature prominently.

It intends to open up to 200 restaurants over the next five years, with a quarter of them based in north and east London via franchise partners, Court Group and DDMG. Eventually, it said, it hopes to make its snacks “part of the way of life in the UK”.

It remains unclear how many Scottish stores it plans on securing. Previously, the company enjoyed prominent locations in major urban thoroughfares, such as Argyle Street in Glasgow.

Nigel Travis, the company’s British chief executive, explained: “We’re very excited about returning to the UK. We’re a different company. In the US, we have gone from strength to strength.”

Giorgio Minardi, the president of Dunkin’ Brands International, which also owns the ice-cream chain Baskin Robbins, added: “We feel there is significant opportunity for Dunkin’ Donuts in the UK, and we have had a tremendous response from potential franchisees interested in developing the brand across the country.”

However, Helen Hokin, a food critic and editor of the Food Tripper website, said the firm would have to reposition itself from its 1990s heyday if it was to compete in the modern age, given the abundance of options on the high street nowadays.

She said: “Cronuts are the new doughnuts, so maybe they need to look at what the market wants right now, and how it has moved on. My memory of Dunkin’ Donuts is of a very iconic brand in the 1990s, but are they going to come back in the same way or reinvent themselves?

“The lunch market has changes so much since the last time Dunkin’ Donuts were in the UK, with so many choices. There are healthy options like Pret a Manger and Eat, and why would people still want to indulge in doughnuts?”