Dunkin’, formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts, is a private quick-service restaurant company headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, United States. It is best known for its coffee, donuts, breakfast sandwiches, and baked goods.
The brand was founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts. Over the decades, Dunkin’ expanded rapidly across the United States and internationally, becoming one of the largest coffee and donut chains in the world.
Today, Dunkin’ operates thousands of locations across the U.S. and in multiple international markets through a franchise-based business model. The company is currently led by its brand president under the parent organization that owns the chain.
Ownership Status of Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts is no longer a publicly traded company. It is privately owned by Inspire Brands.
In December 2020, Inspire Brands completed the acquisition of Dunkin’ for approximately $11.3 billion, including debt. Following the transaction, Dunkin’ was delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange, where it previously traded under the ticker symbol DNKN.
Since the company is now privately held, detailed ownership percentages are not publicly disclosed in the same way they were when it was a public company.
Parent Company Ownership
Inspire Brands itself is majority-owned by private equity firm Roark Capital Group, which also owns Subway.
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roark Capital Group | Majority Stake | Private equity firm that backs Inspire Brands. |
| Other Investors (if any) | Minority Stake | May include co-investors and management interests. |
Note: As a private company, Inspire Brands does not publicly disclose detailed shareholder percentages.
Key Shareholder Highlights
Because Dunkin’ is owned by Inspire Brands, its ultimate ownership is tied to the investors behind Inspire.
- Roark Capital Group holds a controlling stake in Inspire Brands. Roark specializes in franchise and restaurant investments and has a portfolio that includes several major restaurant chains.
- Inspire Brands operates multiple well-known food brands under one umbrella, creating operational efficiencies and shared resources across its portfolio.
In addition to Dunkin’, Inspire Brands also owns companies such as Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, and Jimmy John’s.
Recent Developments in Ownership
The most significant recent ownership development occurred in December 2020, when Inspire Brands finalized its acquisition of Dunkin’. Since then, Dunkin’ has operated as a private brand within Inspire’s portfolio.
There have been no major public ownership restructurings announced since the acquisition. However, as a private equity-backed company, ownership structures can evolve over time based on internal investment decisions.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Dunkin’ Donuts?
Dunkin’ Donuts is owned by Inspire Brands, a privately held restaurant company majority-owned by Roark Capital Group.
2. Is Dunkin’ Donuts publicly traded or privately owned?
It is privately owned. Dunkin’ was publicly traded under the ticker DNKN until it was acquired and taken private in 2020.
3. Who founded Dunkin’ Donuts?
The company was founded by William Rosenberg in 1950 in Massachusetts.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
The most recent major change occurred in December 2020, when Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ and took it private.