Duck Donuts

{{Infobox company

| name = Duck Donuts

| logo = Duck Donuts (logo).svg

| logo_size = 150px

| image = A Duck Donuts store in Chattanooga, Tennessee.jpg

| image_caption = Duck Donuts in Chattanooga, Tennessee

| type = Private

| founder = Russell DiGilio
Robin Griffith

| area_served = {{ubl|United States|Canada|Puerto Rico|Egypt|Saudi Arabia|Thailand|Philippines|Qatar|Pakistan}}

| key_people = Betsy Hamm – CEO
Andy Kmiec – Vice President

| industry = {{flat list|

}}

| genre = {{flat list|

}}

| products = {{ublist |Baked goods |Hot beverages |Iced beverages |Desserts |Sandwiches |Soft drinks}}

| parent =

| subsid =

| services = Franchising
Catering

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2006}}
Duck, North Carolina, U.S.

| hq_location = 6230 Carlisle Pike
Hampden Township, Pennsylvania

| hq_location_country = U.S.

| num_locations = 111 shops (June 2024)

| revenue = US$35 million (2021){{cite news|url=http://www.franchising-today.com/sections/profiles/304-duck-donuts|title=Duck Donuts|last=Zeeman|first=Kat|date=February 5, 2018|newspaper=Franchising Today|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101002820/http://www.franchising-today.com/sections/profiles/304-duck-donuts|url-status=dead}}

| num_employees = 1,200 (2021)

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.duckdonuts.com/|DuckDonuts.com}}

}}

Duck Donuts is an American doughnut shop chain based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina, by Russ DiGilio and Robin Griffith, and has since expanded to over 100 locations in the United States (as of November 2022). The chain's products include customizable, made-to-order doughnuts, other baked goods, and a range of beverages.

History and operations

Headquartered at 6230 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township, near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania,{{cite web|publisher=PennLive|url=http://www.pennlive.com/food/index.ssf/2017/05/duck_donuts_hershey_1.html|title=Here's when the Duck Donuts will open in Hershey|last=Gleiter|first=Sue|date=May 18, 2017}} Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 by Russell "Russ" DiGilio, who saw a need for "warm, fresh, made-to-order doughnuts",{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/hot-and-fresh-duck-donuts-have-arrived-10095411|newspaper=Houston Press|title=At Duck Donuts You Are in Control of Your Own Creation|last=McLean|first=Kate|date=January 5, 2018}} and Robin Griffith. Both natives of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the duo met in 1992 while working in the assisted living industry.{{cite news|newspaper=Out & About|url=https://outandaboutnow.com/2017/06/28/a-sweet-success/|title=A Sweet Success|last=Moore|first=Matt|date=June 28, 2017}}

Prior to Duck Donuts, there were no doughnut shops in North Carolina's Outer Banks. The first Duck Donuts shop was opened in Duck, North Carolina, from which the chain got its name,{{cite news|url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/about-us/our-story/|title=The Story of Duck Donuts|publisher=Duck Donuts|access-date=May 20, 2018}} followed by a second location in Kitty Hawk. The third and fourth Duck Donut shops were opened in Kill Devil Hills and Corolla respectively.{{cite news|url=https://www.ourstate.com/duck-donuts-an-outer-banks-tradition|newspaper=Our State|title=Duck Donuts an Outer Banks Tradition|last=Quine|first=Katie|date=July 2016}}

For half a decade, Duck Donuts was limited to the Outer Banks, but after receiving numerous inquiries about franchising, DiGiglio finally decided to establish the Duck Donuts Franchising Company;{{cite web |url=http://www.bakemag.com/Trends/News/News-Home/2017/11/Duck-Donuts-expands-franchising.aspx?cck=1}|title=Duck Donuts expands franchising|publisher=bakemag.com|date=November 8, 2017|last=Unrein|first=John}} the first franchise location was opened in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2013.{{cite news|url=https://wydaily.com/local-news-old/2013/06/19/duck-donuts-to-open-james-city-county-location/|title=Duck Donuts to Open James City County Location|last=Voll|first=Brittany|newspaper=Williamsburg Yorktown Daily|date=June 19, 2013}} Thereafter, the franchise began expanding to other states including Florida, New Jersey, and Georgia.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesherald.com/business/20170711/duck-donuts-opens-its-doors-in-king-of-prussia|newspaper=The Times Herald|title=Duck Donuts opens its doors in King of Prussia|last=Puleo|first=Gary|date=July 11, 2017}} According to a July 2018 Franchising.com article, there are "69 open franchise locations 140 additional contracts in 23 states and two countries". In May 2018, Duck Donuts opened its first New York location in Hauppauge,{{cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/feed-me/duck-donuts-hauppauge-1.18588948|newspaper=Newsday|title=Duck Donuts to open first New York location in Hauppauge|last=Shellwani|first=Pervaiz|date=May 18, 2018}} and two months later in July they opened their inaugural West Coast location in Huntington Beach, California.{{cite news|url=https://www.franchising.com/news/20180713_warm_delicious_and_madetoorder_duck_donutsreg_expa.html|newspaper=Franchising.com|title=Warm, Delicious and Made-to-Order Duck Donuts Expands to California|date=July 13, 2018}} In December 2018, it had expanded to Minnesota with a Woodbury location.{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Stacy |title=5 Things to know about Minnesota's first Duck Donuts |url=http://www.citypages.com/restaurants/5-things-to-know-about-minnesotas-first-duck-donuts/502164531 |access-date=September 22, 2019 |agency=City Pages |date=December 7, 2018}} By June 2020 Duck Donuts expanded, opening their first location in Bayamón, Puerto Rico,{{cite news |title=Puerto Rico's 1st Duck Donuts store opens in Bayamón |url=https://newsismybusiness.com/puerto-ricos-1st-duck-donuts-store-opens-in-bayamon/ |agency=News Is My Business |date=June 25, 2020}} and in September 2020 the company opened its first store in Dubai, UAE.{{cite news |title=Duck Donuts expands international presence with first Dubai location |url=https://www.bakemag.com/articles/13816-duck-donuts-expands-international-presence-with-first-dubai-location}} That store in Dubai was closed later on. On October 2, 2023, their first location in Thailand opened in Bangkok at Siam Discovery.{{cite news |title=Duck Donuts® Officially Lands in Thailand with First Shop in Bangkok |url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/newsroom/press-release/2023/duck-donuts-officially-lands-in-thailand-with-fi/ |date=October 10, 2023 |access-date=June 26, 2024}} Expansion to the Philippines was announced on January 24, 2024, with plans for 25 locations,{{cite news |title=Duck Donuts® Inks Largest Area Development Agreement to Open 25 Locations in Philippines |url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/newsroom/press-release/2024/duck-donuts-inks-largest-area-development-agreem/ |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=June 26, 2024}} their first operational branch opening near Makati City Hall{{cite news |last1=Go |first1=Marianne |title=Tourism and gastronomy |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/06/26/2365559/tourism-and-gastronomy |agency=The Philippine Star |date=June 26, 2024}} on June 25 and another then under construction at Circuit Makati which opened on July 30.{{cite news |url=https://web.facebook.com/share/p/12C96tF1BoD/ |date=July 30, 2024}}

Charitable contributions and services

In March 2017, Duck Donuts announced its collaboration with the Nashville-based nonprofit organization Gabe's Chemo Duck Program for children with cancer,{{cite web|url=http://chemoduck.org/news-events/press-releases/duck-donuts-gabes-chemo-duck-program-national-partnership/|publisher=Gabe's Chemo Duck Programme|access-date=May 20, 2018|title=Duck Donuts Launches National Partnership with Gabe's Chemo Duck Program}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cpbj.com/article/20170324/CPBJ01/170329861/duck-donuts-partners-with-chemo-duck-childrens-charity|title=Duck Donuts partners with 'Chemo Duck' children's charity|last=DuPuis|first=Roger|date=March 24, 2017|newspaper=Central Penn Business Journal}} and raised some $75,000 in September via its countrywide "Quack Gives Back" initiative.{{cite web|url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/about-us/quack-gives-back/|publisher=Duck Donuts|title=Quack Gives Back|access-date=May 20, 2018}}

Products

File:Box of Duck Donuts 2.jpg

Duck Donuts' menu predominantly comprises doughnuts, sandwiches, coffee, and desserts.{{cite web|url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/menu/|publisher=Duck Donuts|title=Menu|access-date=May 20, 2018}} The cake doughnuts at Duck Donuts are made-to-order and customizable, with topping options including chopped bacon and peanuts.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2018/04/27/duck-donuts-leawood-franchise-mcneil.html|title=Leawood will get KC area's latest fancy doughnut shop|newspaper=Kansas City Business Journal|first=Leslie|last=Collins|date=April 28, 2018}} The entire doughnut-making process is automated using doughnut makers from Belshaw Adamatic.{{cite news|url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/10973-why-cake-donuts-are-flourishing|title=Why cake donuts are flourishing|last=Unrein|first=John|newspaper=Food Business News|date=December 5, 2017}}

Among the four kinds of breakfast sandwiches sold by Duck Donuts is the OBX, which is described as "a sliced doughnut with egg, cheese, sausage or bacon and topped with maple drizzle and chopped bacon".{{cite news|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/foodanddining/20180405/duck-donuts-launches-new-doughnut-breakfast-sandwich|title=Duck Donuts launches new doughnut breakfast sandwich|last=Morris|first=Ashley|newspaper=StarNews|date=April 5, 2018}} Duck Donuts' dessert selection includes doughnut sundaes made with Breyers ice cream.{{cite web|publisher=Duck Donuts|access-date=May 20, 2018|url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/menu/sandwiches-sundaes/|title=Sandwiches and Sundaes}} Another thing Duck Donuts do is their seasonal donuts. In 2024, they released their Fall Favorites Dozen that were selling from September 4 through December 1. These include Cinnamon Sugar, S'mores, Bacon in the Sun, French Toast, Coffee Cake, and other offers.{{Cite web |title=Fall Favorites Dozen|url=https://www.duckdonuts.com/menu/donuts/fall-favorites-dozen/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=Duck Donuts |language=en}}