To paraphrase Mark Twain, any reports of Kainos Partners closing its busy Dunkin’ Donuts central manufacturing facility in Cheektowaga are premature — and more pointedly, false.
In recent days, there was speculation in local commercial real estate and economic development circles that the plant was closing.
That talk is wrong, said Bart Thorne, Kainos Partners Holding Co. LLC president and chief operating officer.
“Our intention at Kainos Partners is to operate our central baking facility in Buffalo indefinitely,” Thorne said. “We are unaware of the source of any rumors to the contrary, and continue to be fully committed to the Buffalo market.”
Kainos entered the Buffalo market about four years ago with the intention of reviving the all-but-dormant Dunkin’ Donuts presence in the region. Since then, the investment group has opened or renovated 71 Dunkin’ Donut locations in the area. The company is still eyeing other sites for future expansion.
As part of its re-entrance into the Buffalo Niagara market, Kainos acquired a former Stroehmann’s Bakery plant in Cheektowaga and turned it into donut and food manufacturing location for its upstate stores.
The plant runs two shifts per day, seven days a week and employs, depending on seasonal spikes, as many as 100 people.
“We look forward to continuing to serve our customers in Buffalo and the building and strengthening our presence there,” Thorne said.
