Since joining DDIFO, I’ve encouraged many to join and strengthen the organization even as they strengthen their own prospects for success. Thankfully, many of them have. Others didn’t recognize the need for an independent franchisee association, telling me, “Relations with the brand are good,” or “We don’t need insurance from the brand.” I’ve preached that…
It would be an understatement to say these are challenging times for the restaurant business, and, in particular, for the quick service sector. In fact, Dunkin’ franchise owners find themselves in the midst of a veritable superstorm of new government-mandated overtime rules, minimum wage hikes, family-leave requirements and now “voluntary” sodium disclosures as well. Possibly…
Ask any Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner who was in the system ten years ago about the level of trust that existed between franchisee and franchisor, and he or she will have a story to tell. At that time, Dunkin’ Brands had more lawsuits pending against its franchisees than any other quick service restaurant system. And,…
Ever since it started offering deli-like sandwiches to its customers in 2012, Dunkin’ Donuts has been in a constant state of change—searching for the right meat-cheese-and-egg combos to boost breakfast sales and provide all-day companions to its growing roster of beverages. Now, with snacks representing approximately 60 percent of sales, Dunkin’ Brands is trying out…
Alex Fernandez thought he had retired. After almost 30 years with AIG, the international insurance and financial services firm, Fernandez was ready to try a life of golf and relaxation. Then a family crisis intervened and Fernandez found himself back in the world of work, in a different country and a different business entirely. And…
New competition has a knack of forcing change. In the QSR space, McDonald’s successful all-day breakfast promotion prompted Dunkin’ Donuts to make significant changes to its menu boards—both from a style and content perspective. Scott Hudler, chief digital officer for Dunkin’ Brands, spelled out the importance of the redesign in an interview with Bloomberg News…
Last month the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (US DOL) issued its much anticipated final regulations that substantially increase the minimum salary required to qualify for exemption to the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). An effort by Republican congressional lawmakers to challenge the rule…
Ever since it started offering deli-like sandwiches to its customers in 2012, Dunkin’ Donuts has been in a constant state of change—searching for the right meat-cheese-and-egg combos to boost breakfast sales and provide all-day companions to its growing roster of beverages. Now, with snacks representing approximately 60 percent of sales, Dunkin’ Brands is trying out…
Small Regular - No Sugar Newsletter is weekly email with news and updates - it is like a virtual cup of coffee with DDIFO Executive Director Ed Shanahan