Independent Joe Magazine – September 2011

Green Mountain’s Expiring K-Cup Patents Attract Coffee Rivals

Leslie Patton reports at BusinessWeek that – Sept. 16, 2012, is D Day — or at least K Day — for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. That’s when it will lose the main patents on K-Cups, the coffee pods that helped make Green Mountain the largest player in the $1 billion-plus U.S. single-serve coffee market.

United Capital Finances New Store Development for Multi-Unit Dunkin’ Donuts Operator

DDIFO Sponsor United Capital Business Lending, a subsidiary of BankUnited, announced today that it is providing $2,000,000 in financing to Dunkin’ Donuts® owner, Raguveer, LLC. United Capital is funding a multi-unit development line for future expansion and will also refinance some of the Maryland-based operator’s existing Dunkin’ Donuts® stores.

Delphi Display Systems Acquires Fast Track, Increases Product and Service Quality

On July 1, 2011, Delphi Display Systems acquired the assets of Phase Research, including the Fast Track drive-thru timing systems, a DDIFO Sponsor. One of Delphi’s top priorities following this acquisition was to re-establish its relationship with Dunkin’ Brands and ensure delivery of the highest quality products and service.

IRS Announces New Voluntary Worker Classification Settlement Program

From time to time DDIFO is pleased to present Guest Commentary from valued contributors. Guest commentaries feature the views and opinions of the contributor and are not necessarily the opinions of DDIFO and it’s Board of Directors. The following is an article written and submitted by Jim Ventriglia, CPA

Dunkin’ Brands: Menu, marketing drive 3Q sales growth

Nation’s Restaurant News reports that Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, reported Tuesday a decline in third-quarter income, driven by expenses surrounding its initial public offering in July, but discussed positive sales trends and aggressive expansion plans.

Starbucks K-Cup Packs Hit Shelves

Starbucks coffee K-Cup Portion Packs for the Keurig Single-Cup Brewing system hit store shelves this week at major food, drug, mass, club, specialty, and department store retailers throughout the U.S.

Fidelity Bank was named one of the Top Places to Work 2011 in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe.

DDIFO Sponsor Fidelity Bank was named one of the Top Places to Work 2011 in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe. They were the only bank in Central Massachusetts and one of only two employers in the region to make this year’s list.

Two Bain Capital Partners Get an Early Holiday Gift from Dunkin’ Brands

Lisa van der Pool of the Boston Business Journal reports that Dunkin’ Brands(DNKN) is brewing a cup of holiday cheer for a pair of private equity investors at Boston’s Bain Capital. Bain managing directors Andrew Balson and Mark Nunnelly are among a selkect group of executives, former executives and directors who are free to sell shares they personally hold in the company as of Wednesday – about two months ahead of scheduled end of a lock-up period on such sales.

Allen Cicchitelli Joins DDIFO Board of Directors

The DD Independent Franchise Owners Group (DDIFO), which represents the largest association of Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners in the US, is pleased to announce the addition of Rhode Island businessman Allen Cicchitelli to the DDIFO Board of Directors.