About Us
Did you Know? With the combined retail units of these three brands, Dunkin' Brands, Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies, represented by over 12,000 worldwide points of distribution, including approximately 7,600 units in the United States and almost 4,400 units in 46 countries around the world.
Corporate History
Pioneers are known for ambition, for showing strength amidst challenges, and for always holding a clear vision of the future. We at Dunkin' Brands are grounded in this principle, thanks to the pioneering strength of our brands' founders.
| 1961: | Allied Breweries of London, England, is formed from the merger of three major United Kingdom companies. |
| 1973: | London-based J. Lyons & Co., Ltd., purchased Baskin-Robbins. |
| 1978: | J. Lyons is purchased by Allied Breweries, creating Allied Lyons. |
| 1990: | Allied Lyons buys Dunkin' Donuts. |
| 1993: | Allied Lyons Retailing is formed to integrate Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins operations. |
| 1994: | Allied Lyons partners with Pedro Domecq, the leading spirits marketer in Spain and Mexico, to form Allied Domecq. |
| 1996: | Allied Lyons Retailing becomes Allied Domecq Retailing USA (ADRUSA) and Allied Domecq Retailing International (ADRI). |
| 1997: | Togo's joins the brand portfolio. |
| 1999: | ADRUSA and ADRI come together as the integrated Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants (ADQSR). |
| 2003: | Jon L. Luther joins ADQSR as Chief Executive Officer. |
| 2004: | ADQSR is renamed Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. Allied Domecq PLC and Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. is acquired by Pernod Ricard SA. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. moves from Randolph, Mass. to current headquarters in Canton, Mass. |
| 2004: | Allied Domecq PLC and Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. is purchased by Pernod Ricard SA. |
| 2006: | Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. is purchased by Bain Capital
LLC, The Carlyle Group, and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. Dunkin’ Brands Culinary Dream Team is established. |
| 2007: | Dunkin’ Brands divests of Togo’s to Mainsail Partners of San Francisco. Dunkin' Brands Nutrition Advisory Board is formed. |
Brand History
| 1946: | Baskin-Robbins is founded by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins. |
| 1950: | Dunkin' Donuts is founded by Bill Rosenberg with a simple philosophy: "Make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well-merchandised stores." |
| 1953: | Baskin-Robbins introduces its "31 Flavors" concept based on a different flavor for each day of the month. |
| 1963: | 100th Dunkin' Donuts restaurant opens. |
| 1969: | Baskin-Robbins launches Lunar Cheesecake ice cream as the United States launches the first man on the moon. |
| 1982: | Dunkin' Donuts introduces Fred the Baker, TIME TO MAKE THE DONUTS® advertising campaign begins. |
| 1994: | Baskin-Robbins introduces Cappuccino Blast®, one of the first coffee-based ice cream beverages in the industry. |
| 1996: | Dunkin' Donuts introduces freshly-baked bagels. |
| 1999: | Dunkin' Donuts celebrates its 8 billionth cup of coffee sold since opening its doors. |
| 2000: | Dunkin' Donuts opens its 5,000th restaurant worldwide in Bali, Indonesian. |
| 2002: | Dunkin' Donuts launches an espresso revolution with a new line of espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos. |
| 2004: | Baskin-Robbins franchisee, Mitch Cohen, sets a new Guinness World Record for the "Most Ice Cream Prepared in One Minute," scooping 18 cones. |
| 2005: | Baskin-Robbins introduces Bold Breeze® beverages. |
| 2006: | Dunkin' Donuts launches Smoothies. Dunkin’ Donuts launches the “America Runs on Dunkin’” marketing campaign. Dunkin’ Donuts and JetBlue Airways announce partnership. Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend Coffee and Dunkin' Decaf® become the official JetBlue in-flight coffee. |
| 2007: | Dunkin’ Donuts partners with Procter & Gamble to launch Dunkin’ Donuts coffee at retail outlets, including supermarkets and club stores.
Dunkin’ Donuts opens its first restaurant in Taiwan, representing the first step in its China expansion strategy. Dunkin’ Donuts announces partnerships with Hess Corporation and Sara Lee Corporation, bringing Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to new, nontraditional foodservice locations. Adding to its line-up of frozen take-home ice cream treats, Baskin-Robbins introduces Fudge Crunch Ice Cream Cakes. |
| 2008: | Dunkin’ Donuts launches its all-day Oven-Toasted menu, featuring flatbread sandwiches, personal pizzas and hash browns.
Dunkin’ Donuts breaks ground in St. Petersburg, Fla. for its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified restaurant. Dunkin’ Donuts partners with Yahoo! Inc. to create two new Dunkin' Donuts-branded video programs, as well as a Dunkin' Donuts community web site. Dunkin’ Donuts’ 500th Korean restaurant opens. Dunkin’ Donuts launches DDSMART menu, a line of better-for-you products. Baskin-Robbins launches Soft Serve, becoming the only national ice cream chain to offer both Soft Serve and hand scooped ice cream. Baskin-Robbins introduces premium gourmet cakes in the Middle East. |