Smack in the middle of the COVID-challenged 2020 NFL season, Inspire Brands sealed the deal to acquire Dunkin’ Brands International for the phenomenal price of $11.3 billion. Congratulations to all the players on these two (soon to be one) teams. A new owner is taking over an established and successful franchised brand. What could possibly…
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Over the course of a 30-day period back in August/September, there were announcements from the White House on three separate peace agreements: Israel and the United Arab Emirates; Serbia and Kosovo; and lastly Bahrain and Israel. Without invoking any kind of political opinions in this presidential election year, these agreements are significant milestones on the…
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What a difference a day makes. Or to update that rhetorical message, what a difference three months makes. Yes, it was just three short months ago when states like Florida, Texas, Arizona and a host of others across the south and southwest were seemingly enjoying some inexplicable level of immunity from the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses…
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Before the coronavirus worsened and jeopardized the 2020 baseball season, there was much discussion about the Houston Astros and the sign-stealing scandal that may have fueled their 2017 World Series Championship. Since the scandal broke, a number of people have lost their jobs, including the Astros manager and general manager, as well as the manager…
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Every two months, the staff at DDIFO convenes an editorial meeting to decide the theme, focus and content of the next issue of Independent Joe. As we contemplate and discuss various possibilities, we do so with one eye on the timeliness of the potential subject matter. Our discussions are always geared toward which subjects could…
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The idea of a Hall of Fame has its roots in Norse Mythology, but it was really brought to fruition with Ludwig I, who was the King of Bavaria, in 1842. He commissioned the building of a memorial called Walhalla to hold plaques and statues honoring great Germans. The Hall of Fame for Great Americans,…
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Last month, I visited the 9/11 Museum and Memorial at the site of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, which were knocked down by terrorist attacks 17 years ago. The memorial is a stark but solemn reminder of that horrific day when America came under attack. During my visit, I recalled how,…
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So we’ve turned the page and begun a new chapter at Dunkin’ Brands with the ascension of Dave Hoffman to President and Chief Executive Officer and the retirement of Nigel Travis. As we’ve often written here, change is inevitable and, ultimately, healthy. I would expect that to be true of this latest change as well.…
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This issue of Independent Joe is our 50th issue. DDIFO first published “Indy Joe” back in the spring of 2009 as a 16-page quarterly publication. The cover of the inaugural issue teased a feature on the benefits of mediation versus litigation, along with a photo insert of Brad Pitt carrying a medium cup of Dunkin’…
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I have always been a big sports fan, pretty much any sport too, where the game is challenging and the skills of the players something to behold. So, it should come as no surprise that I am a fan of the Olympic Games, and while watching the dazzling opening ceremony, I had a bit of…
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