BUILDING ON STRONG BRANDS, LOCAL ECONOMY AND DEMOGRAPHICS, BASKIN-ROBBINS, DUNKIN' DONUTS AND TOGO'S PLAN GROWTH IN PHOENIX (11/01)

Phoenix residents will soon enjoy much greater access to some of the nation's favorite coffee, baked goods, frozen treats, sandwiches and salads, thanks to plans announced today by Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's. The companies plan to add a combined 50 points of distribution here over the next several years, which will provide job opportunities for hundreds of employees.

Qualified single- and multi-unit operators and investors are now being sought to take advantage of this opportunity. Candidates with the financial means and expertise necessary to successfully develop and operate locations featuring two or all three of the brands are being invited to attend an Open House on November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Marriott Suites in Scottsdale, where corporate development, business, licensing, training and marketing executives will discuss Franchise opportunities.

Phoenix is Ripe for Expansion

Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts are two of the biggest names in the quick-service Restaurant business, each with more than 4,000 locations in the United States and abroad and among the most popular concepts in their categories. Togo's, which enjoys a strong following in California, has successfully penetrated a number of new markets throughout the country with its popular menu of sandwiches and salads. The strength of these three brands, paired with favorable demographic factors here, makes Phoenix ripe with opportunity for franchisees.

"Phoenix is an exciting expansion market for us," says Dave Harrington, Senior Market Executive in the Western United States and Canada for Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants (ADQSR), which oversees worldwide development and marketing of the three brands. "It is one of the largest cities and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States as measured both by residents and businesses moving into the area and has lower than average operating costs compared with other U.S. metropolitan markets. Perhaps most importantly, it has an abundant base of hardworking individuals with a common desire to be in business for themselves."

Currently, there are 115 Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's units in Arizona, including 45 locations in Phoenix. A number of areas within the market are ripe for development, Harrington says, presenting a unique opportunity for franchisees to introduce all three brands or to add one or both remaining brands to existing locations. Developing multi-brand locations, he adds, will provide operators with the opportunity to leverage their investment in real estate, labor and equipment.

"ADQSR's strategically assembled trio of brands allow franchisees to put a great combination of businesses on great locations. Each concept typically caters to a different mealtime, keeping customer traffic flowing throughout the course of the day."

The minimum cash requirement for a franchise is $200,000 for a single Dunkin' Donuts store or any multi-brand store, and $100,000 for a Togo's store.

About Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin' Donuts and Togo's

With close to 5,000 combined units in the United States and 37 countries around the world, Dunkin' Donuts has established a worldwide reputation for quality, freshness and convenience. It is the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world, providing premier coffee, bagels, donuts and other related products since 1950.

Baskin-Robbins is one of the world's largest and most beloved retailers of frozen treats and a pioneer in ice cream franchising. Since 1945, the company has created more than 700 different flavors and has grown to include more than 4,400 units.

Togo's, a 300-plus-store sandwich chain founded in 1971, is recognized for its fresh, high-quality food, earning various "best-sandwich" awards.