Dunkin’ Donuts Will Return To California In 2015

Considering the number of large cities and college campuses, it’s surprising that you won’t find a single Dunkin’ Donuts in the entire state of California. That was not always the case as Dunkin’ Donuts did have locations in California until 2002, when its final store in Sacrtamento closed, reports Reuters. 

While there are plenty of dedicated fans of Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee, and the chain has as much of a presence as Starbucks in many East Coast cities, it was not able to stick in California. That will change in the near future as the company announced plans to re-enter California in 2015 on Wednesday.

In a statement, Dunkin’ Donuts announced the plans to expand to California with the opening of 150 locations in 2015 throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura and Orange counties, ending a 13-year absence from the state.

It seems there will always be a market for coffee, and Dunkin’ Donuts is a popular brand that could appeal to people looking for an affordable cup of coffee or an alternative to Starbucks. In fact, Dunkin’ Donuts is already popular in California as the company reports that the state is number one for sales of its brand of bagged coffee, reports Reuters.

The return to California marks a change in policy for Dunkin’ Donuts. Since 2002, the company has changed hands and has gone public and has steadily rolled out expansion plans, reports Reuters.

Nigel Travis, CEO of Dunkin’ Brands and president of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., said, “This past year was an exciting one for Dunkin’ Donuts’ growth in the United States, and we are delighted to begin 2013 with the long-awaited announcement that Dunkin’ Donuts will be opening restaurants in California, where there is already incredible passion for our brand.”

Dunkin’ Donuts is not just dipping its toe in California and has big plans for the state. According to Travis, “We eventually plan to have more than 1,000 restaurants throughout the state,” reports Reuters. There are approximately 7,200 Dunkin’ Donuts locations in America, notes Reuters, and the company will face some stiff competition in the state, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Peet's Coffee & Tea and Winchell's Donut House.