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Fast Food Maven ~ Restaurant news, trends and culture by Nancy Luna.

Archive for the 'Dunkin’ Donuts' Tag

Is Dunkin’ Donuts headed to Southern California?

June 17th, 2009, 10:12 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
dunkindonuts

Over the years, Dunkin' Donuts has expanded its menu to compete with Starbucks and McDonald's. It serve espresso drinks, doughnuts and breakfast wraps.

My co-worker Jon Lansner recently spotted this “Tweet”  from Dunkin’ Donuts:

“Calif is our No.1 asked/answered Q on the social media. A) We’re coming; when, tbd.”

“We’re coming.”

What?!!

I immediately followed up with Dunkin’ Donuts, an 8,000-unit chain with no brand presence in California.

Is Dunkin’ Donuts really coming?

Turns out, we shouldn’t hold our breath. A marketing rep for Dunkin’ Brands, parent company of the doughnut chain and Baskin-Robbins, sent me this statement:

dunkindonuts_med“We get these kinds of tweets, emails and blog posts all the time about Dunkin’ opening in California. Dunkin’ Donuts will eventually be in California, but there is no date set yet. We will, of course, let you know if we get more specific news on the California market. “

Meanwhile, earlier this week,  Dunkin’ Brands opened its 15,000th store  — a combo Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins Express –  in North Carolina. Yet we have nothing.

Why this chain refuses to set up shop in Orange and Los Angeles counties, I don’t know.

Tell us: What do you think? Is Dunkin’ Donuts smart for not setting up shop here? After all, look what happened to Krispy Kreme in Southern California.  Write in and let us know, and take our POLL below:

Do you want Dunkin' Donuts in California?
  • Add an Answer
View Results

Posted in: Cafes and Coffee • Desserts • Fast food news • | 85 Comments »

Fast-food chains beef up online contests, ‘bailout’ deals

March 25th, 2009, 12:39 pm by Dhawani Parekh, staff writer

Dunkin’ Donuts, Domino’s Pizza and Wendy’s are giving away more than $40,000 in prizes over the next several weeks via online contests. Here’s the rundown:

Domino’s Pizza

  • Domino’s is launching its Super Big Taste Bailout in which you can nominate a friend in need of a bailout. The first two winners, along with their nominating friends, will receive free Domino’s and oven baked sandwiches for a year.  Domino’s CEO Dave Brandon will deliver the grand prize to the winner’s home. (Brandon is featured in Domino’s latest commercial.) The deadline to enter is April 19.
  • To nominate someone, go to https://www.superbigtastebailout.com/.
  • Also, Domino’s is doing itsr Big Taste Bailout, which offers to deliver three or more medium, one-topping pizzas or oven baked sandwiches just for $5 each. This promotion is good through April 12.

For more information, visit http://www.dominos.com.

Wendy’s

  • Wendy’s is holding a 99-cent Bid for Value Auction. The chain is giving away more than $30,000 worth of prizes such as Hank Aaron autographed baseball, an Xbox 360 Elite Console, a Kawasaki Off-Road Motorcycle and many others. But there’s a twist to this game. It’s a reverse auction.  Here’s how it works: the auction will start off with the bidding of each item at its full value price. The bidding will go down until it reaches 99 cents. The first person to reach that mark will win that prize.
  • Auctions are held from March 25 until April 3. You can register anytime until April 3. You have to be at least 18 years or older to enter.

For more information, visit http://www.99centbidforvalue.com.

Dunkin’ Donuts

  • Now through April 7, consumers have a chance of winning $12,000 in the “Create Dunkin’s Next Donut” contest. Go to http://www.dunkindonuts.com/donuts, where you can create your own virtual doughnut. You will be allowed to vote online for your favorite doughnut beginning May 15. The grand prize winner will be unveiled June 5 — National Donut Day.  You must be 13 years or older to enter the contest. (Note: Although Dunkin’ Donuts does not have any Orange County stores, anyone can participate, the chain said.) For more information, visit http://www.dunkindonuts.com.

Let us know: Are you going to join any of the contests? Which one do you think is the best contest to join? If you do win, let us know.

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Posted in: Fast food news • Food Prices • Food freebies • Pizza • • • | 2 Comments »

Fast food — it’s not just for couch potatoes, report says

June 1st, 2008, 3:00 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Fast food eaters not just couch potatoesA new report looking at the habits of fast-food eaters reveals some validating facts: we’re not lazy, fat gluttons with low-income jobs.

Instead, fast-foodies (like myself) are time-starved Americans who eat fast food because it’s convenient way to fill hunger pains without breaking the bank. And, frequent fast-food users tend to be attracted — believe it or not — to healthier items offered on the menu, the report found.

“While the stereotype of a typical fast food customer may be that of a couch potato, our research found the opposite to be true as high frequency fast food users are more active than the average consumer,” said Alexander Kleijngeld, author of the Fast Food Nation 2008 Report by Research International.

The survey underscored the popularity of fast-food, especially during recessionary times. Here’s some tidbits gleaned from the fast food survey:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Burger Joints • Fast food news • McDonald's • | 2 Comments »

Spam makes a comeback & Dunkin’ Donuts axes Rachael Ray ad in ’scarfgate’ scandal

May 31st, 2008, 1:00 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Dunkin’ Donuts axes Rachael Ray ad after scarf incident

  • Scarfgate: Dunkin’ Donuts axes a Rachael Ray ad due a
    wardrobe misfire? Hmm. (NYT)
  • It appears Spam, the mysterious poor-man’s protein, is making a comeback. Why? It’s cheap. (Minn. Star Trib) Also, checkout these funny Spam lyrics by Save Ferris.
  • Los Angeles always looks to be cutting edge on everything — even a burger concept. This week, another organic fast-food burger opens in the City of Angeles. (LAist)
  • Denny’s, Mimi’s Cafe launching small, value meals
  • KFC adds chipotle flavored chicken & introduces with items as low as 99 cents. Learn more by reading my New on the Menu section.
  • Five Guys, the In-N-Out of the East Coast, plans 30 units in Southern California: OC unit coming soon. Carson restaurant already open.
  • Cupcake wars ignite in Orange County
  • Starbucks continues to expand globally. The Green Giant opens its first cafe in Argentina. (PR newswire)
  • Toma Leche? The marketing team behind the Got Milk? campaign launched this week a Spanish-language version of the milk website. (tomalech.com)

    • Posted in: Burger Joints • Fast food news • In-N-Out Burger • Marketing Buzz • Nutrition • • | Post a Comment »

    Forget your evening java jolt: Starbucks closing cafes tonight

    February 26th, 2008, 3:00 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

    Updated 1:30 p.m. with additional comments from Starbucks 

    It’s lights out today at Starbucks for latte lovers looking for an early evening java jolt.

    For the first time in the company’s three-decade history, Starbucks is closing down more than 7,000 company-operated stores across the United States for a three-hour period starting at 5:30 p.m., local time.

    skinny-latte_web.jpgThe temporary shutdown includes dozens of company-operated Orange County cafes. License stores such as units operating in grocery stores are not affected.

    The struggling Seattle-based chain will use the unprecedented lockout time to train employees and baristas on how to better “connect with customers,” spokesman Brandon Borrman said. For example, baristas will be trained on espresso standards to ensure they are serving a high-quality beverage.

    “We’re taking time to perfect our art of espresso,” read a sign posted outside an Old Towne Orange Starbucks Tuesday morning. The sign also stated that the store wouldn’t re-open until the next morning.

    A company representative said Tuesday afternoon that cafes with late-night hours will re-open after 9 p.m. However, some cafes have opted to close stores for the remainder of the night.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Posted in: Cafes and Coffee • McDonald's • Starbucks • | 26 Comments »