Dunkin' Donuts Heading to Russia

Coffee and baked goods chain Dunkin' Donuts (Canton, Mass.) is bringing its brand to Russia, with its first restaurant opening in Moscow on Novy Arbat Street next month. Franchise partner Donuts Project LLC plans to open between 10 and 20 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in and around the Russian capital by the end of the year, with expansion plans also in the works for Ukraine.

“We are extremely excited to open our first Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in Russia and to begin our steady and strategic expansion throughout the region,” says Anthony Pavese, chief operating officer for Dunkin' Donuts Intl. “Russia is experiencing significant growth, and the pace of everyday life is becoming faster.”

Adds Konstantin Petrov, founder of Donuts Project LLC, “Dunkin' Donuts is one of America's most beloved brands, and we believe the Russian people will embrace this restaurant concept as well.”

The Moscow location will offer Dunkin’ Donuts’ complete menu, as well as items customized with flavors adapted to suit local taste preferences, such as donuts filled with scalded cream or raspberry, which tastes similar to a traditional raspberry jam.

In recent years, the company, which operates more than 9000 restaurants on four continents, has focused its expansion efforts in Europe and the Asia-Pacific market. It operates approximately 70 restaurants in Germany, Spain and Bulgaria and, last year, opened its first two restaurants in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, with plans for more than 400 locations in Mainland China over the next 10 years.