Dunkin' Donuts

William Rosenberg, the founder of Dunkin' Donuts, was born in Massachusetts in 1916.

The first Dunkin' Donuts shop opened under the name 'Open Kettle' on January 1, 1948. The exact day is uncertain, and January 1 might not be the accurate date.

On January 1, 1950, the shop originally named 'Open Kettle' was officially renamed as Dunkin' Donuts. This change marked a significant moment in the history of the popular coffee and donut chain.

On January 1, 1953, Dunkin' Donuts unveiled its iconic logo, which would become synonymous with the brand and play a significant role in its marketing and recognition.

By January 1, 1954, Dunkin' Donuts had diversified its product offerings to include a variety of baked goods, hot beverages, iced beverages, frozen beverages, sandwiches, and soft drinks, catering to a wider customer base.

By 1963, over 100 Dunkin Donuts restaurants were operating in the United States, showcasing an updated style of the brand name with different fonts and colors.

In 1970, Dunkin Donuts made its international debut with the opening of its first overseas restaurant in Japan. This marked the beginning of the brand's global presence.

In 1973, Dunkin' Donuts started selling Munchkins donut hole treats as a creative way to utilize the donut dough from the center of the donut. Currently, approximately 1 billion Munchkins donut hole treats are sold globally each year.

In 1978, Dunkin Donuts added muffins to their menu, offering 7 different flavors including blueberry, plain, and chocolate chip. These sweet treats became popular and were enjoyed throughout the day by customers.

By 1979, Dunkin' Donuts had expanded to over 1,000 locations, showcasing its rapid growth and popularity.

Dunkin Donuts launched its iconic 'Fred the Baker' commercials in 1982, featuring actor Michael Vale as the recognizable salesman.

Dunkin' Donuts opened its first location in Saudi Arabia in 1986 and has since expanded to operate over 500 stores in the Kingdom by October 2022.

In 1990, Dunkin Donuts was acquired by Baskin-Robins's holding company, leading to a partnership that emphasized advertising efforts.

In 1992, the 3,000th Dunkin' Donuts restaurant was opened, showcasing the continued growth and success of the chain.

In 1995, Vale was pictured with former Dunkin' Donuts CEO Bob Rosenberg at the original Quincy Dunkin' Donuts location.

In 1996, Dunkin' Donuts expanded its menu by adding bagels, catering to a wider range of customer preferences.

The year 1997 marked the introduction of Coolatta® frozen beverages and breakfast sandwiches at Dunkin' Donuts, enhancing the beverage and breakfast options for customers.

Michael Vale, popularly known as 'Fred the Baker', departed from the advertising business at Dunkin Donuts in 1998. His absence left a void as he was a unique figure in the company's commercials.

Under Robert Rosenberg's leadership until 1999, Dunkin' Donuts introduced a variety of new menu offerings including muffins, bagels, donut holes (Munchkins), croissants, breakfast sandwiches, Coolattas, and other beverages.

In 2003, Dunkin' Donuts discontinued a donut specifically designed for dunking, which had a handle. The decision was made due to the inefficiency of hand-cutting the donuts compared to machine-cut ones.

In 2004, Dunkin Donut's headquarters was relocated from Quincy to Canton in Massachusetts. The CEO made the decision to keep the headquarters within the state.

Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins were acquired by Bain Capital, Carlyle Group, and Thomas H. Lee Partners for 2.4 billion dollars. The ownership changed hands, but there were no significant changes to the company's products.

In March 2006, Dunkin' Donuts changed its slogan to 'America Runs on Dunkin', emphasizing its popularity and importance in American culture.

In 2007, Dunkin Donuts expanded its international reach by opening its first restaurant in Taiwan, further solidifying its presence in the Asian market.

In May 2008, Dunkin' Donuts faced criticism and removed a commercial featuring Rachael Ray wearing a scarf that was perceived to resemble a keffiyeh, leading to accusations of supporting terrorism.

In March 2009, Dunkin' Donuts unveiled the alternate slogan 'You 'Kin Do It!' as part of a major ad campaign, aiming to motivate and engage customers.

In May 2010, Dunkin' Donuts faced backlash for promoting 'Free Iced Coffee Day' on its national Facebook page, which was only available in 13 cities. This led to customer dissatisfaction and negative feedback on social media.

On February 24, 2011, Dunkin' Donuts signed a master franchise agreement with Indian food service company Jubilant FoodWorks to operate the brand in India.

On January 1, 2012, Dunkin' Donuts launched its mobile app, providing customers with a convenient way to order and engage with the brand.

Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands CEO, announced that Dunkin' Donuts franchises would be available in California starting in 2015.

The first Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins combination store in Southern California opened in Ramona.

On December 5, 2014, Dunkin' Donuts opened their first location in the Nordic region at the Täby Centrum shopping mall in the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden.

On April 1, 2015, the first store in Denmark opened in Copenhagen Central Station.

As of November 16, 2015, Dunkin' Donuts had expanded to over 11,000 restaurants across 33 countries.

On January 21, 2016, Dunkin' Brands announced a master franchise agreement with Grand Parade Investments Ltd. to develop Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins outlets throughout South Africa.

All Dunkin' locations became franchisee owned and operated.

On July 24, 2018, Dunkin Donuts announced that the company's Swedish operations had filed for bankruptcy and all locations in Sweden would close immediately.

Starting in January 2019, Dunkin' began introducing its new branding in stores. The company retained the color scheme of pink and orange, as well as the logo font, both of which originated in 1973.

Dunkin' Brands announced the permanent closure of 800 shops in the US due to a 20 percent drop in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inspire Brands purchased Dunkin' Brands, the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, on December 15, 2020. This marked a new chapter for the company under new ownership.

As of today, there are over 12,000 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants operating in 45 different countries. The brand has been focusing on menu innovation, introducing a variety of beverages such as Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Dark Roast coffee, Cold Brew, Macchiato, and Premium Hot Teas.