Dunkin' Donuts' primary competitor was previously Mister Donut, but Dunkin' Donuts' owner Allied-Lyons acquired Mister Donut in February 1990. All Mister Donut stores in North America were offered the chance to change their name to Dunkin' Donuts.
Dunkin' Donuts is owned by Dunkin' Brands Inc., which also owns Baskin-Robbins and previously owned the Togo's chain.
William Rosenberg opened Open Kettle in 1948, a restaurant selling doughnuts and coffee in Quincy, Massachusetts, but he changed the name in 1950 to Dunkin' Donuts after discussing with company executives. He conceived the idea for the restaurant after his experiences selling food in factories and at construction sites, where doughnuts and coffee were the two most popular items. The restaurant was successful, and Rosenberg sold franchises to others starting in 1955.
As of December 28, 2013, there were 10,858 Dunkin' Donuts retail locations, including 7,677 in the United States and 3,181 in other countries.
According towikipedia
