Dunkin' Donuts Announces New Franchisee in Greater Kansas City

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Verona Key, LLC to Open More Than 15 New Restaurants

Canton, Mass., // PRNewswire // -- Dunkin' Donuts, America's favorite every day, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods, announced today the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with Verona Key LLC, for the development of multiple restaurants in Greater Kansas City. The first location is anticipated to open in 2009 at 7720 West 151st Street in Overland Park.

Verona Key, LLC, a Kansas City-based female/family-owned and operated business, is committed to Dunkin' Donuts' success in Kansas City and Missouri. A partnership between Jennifer Benjamin, president and Kristin Rhyne, COO and CFO ensures Dunkin' Donuts' presence in the Kansas City market. A graduate from Colgate University and the Harvard School of Business, Rhyne brings an entrepreneurial background in finance and new business start-ups.

Benjamin, with strong ties to the Kansas City business community and an extensive background in community development, and Rhyne are entrepreneurs who have independently created and operated successful businesses in the investment community, the retail industry, and the philanthropic sector. Their combined expertise and commitment to Kansas City sparked their interest in this venture. Verona Key also intends to implement a community philanthropic program by supporting Harvesters - The Community Food Network.

In addition to the development agreement mentioned above, Dunkin' Donuts is still seeking new and existing franchisees to develop a minimum of 10 restaurants in Kansas City. Dunkin' Donuts' development of Kansas City is part of a steady and strategic growth strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while entering new cities across the country to help direct the company's future growth.

"With the Kansas City area recently opened for franchise sales, we are excited to welcome Verona Key to the market," says Lynette McKee, CFE, vice president of franchising, Dunkin' Brands, Inc.

Building a network of restaurants enables Dunkin' Donuts to invest in a distribution model that ensures consistent, high-quality products that customers expect when visiting a Dunkin' Donuts location. In an effort to keep the brand fresh and competitive, Dunkin' Donuts offers franchisees a variety of designs and venues, including free-standing stores, sites within shopping centers and convenience stores, as well as other retail environments.

According to McKee, "Dunkin' Donuts will satisfy a growing demand in Kansas City for high quality coffee and baked goods that are available all day. Dunkin' Donuts is proud to energize Americans and keep the honest, hard-working, value-driven people of this country running every day -- whether it's in a boardroom, a schoolroom or a construction site. We look forward to being a vibrant part of the community and playing an important role in the daily lives of the people who live and work in Kansas City."

About Dunkin' Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite every day, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' Donuts is the #1 retailer of hot and iced regular coffee-by-the-cup in America, and the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin' Donuts has earned the #1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for three years running. The company has more than 8,800 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide. In 2008, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $5.5 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands, Inc.

SOURCE Dunkin' Donuts

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