Stop & Shop and Dunkin' Donuts Form Strategic Alliance to Offer Customers One-Stop-Shopping

Quincy/Randolph, MA (February 19/20, 2002) -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Dunkin' Donuts today announced a strategic alliance in which Dunkin' Donuts will open full-service stores in Stop & Shop locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Dunkin' Donuts franchisees have committed to 70 locations and expect to begin rolling out in March 2002.

The agreement will enable Stop & Shop customers to buy Dunkin' Donuts coffee and baked goods while shopping at New England's leading supermarket chain. Participating Stop & Shop's will have a dedicated Dunkin' Donuts store located in the bakery section of the supermarket.

"This is a marriage of two great brands," stated Marc Smith, President and CEO of Stop & Shop. "We are continuously exploring opportunities that offer our customers additional services and conveniences. We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers Dunkin' Donuts coffee and baked goods as part of the Stop & Shop experience."

The Dunkin' Donuts concept was initially tested in three Stop & Shop locations in Quincy, Mansfield and Dedham, MA beginning in March 2001. The success of the test program led to today's announcement about a formal agreement.

"Dunkin' Donuts continually seeks smart and innovative ways to extend our brand presence," said Ken Kimmel, Vice President, Dunkin' Donuts Concepts. "Stop & Stop is a leader in the supermarket industry and we are pleased to work with them in offering customers their favorite coffee and baked goods."

THE AGREEMENT
Each participating Stop & Shop will house a full-service Dunkin' Donuts shop, complete with Dunkin's traditional menu items, including coffee, donuts, muffins, bagels, breakfast sandwiches. Customers will also be able to purchase Dunkin's packaged "coffee-by-the-pound" which until this point has not been available at grocery stores.

"Our customers will be able to enjoy the same hot coffee and fresh donuts at one of our Stop & Shop locations as at any of our 5,000 store locations worldwide," stated Dunkin's Kimmel.

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, based in Quincy, Massachusetts, employs more than 56,000 associates and operates 324 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.

Dunkin' Donuts, Inc. is the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world, providing its loyal customers with high quality coffee, donuts and other related baked goods since 1950. The company boasts over 3,500 locations in the United States and approximately 1,500 locations in 35 other countries around the world. Dunkin' Donuts is based in Randolph, MA, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allied Domecq PLC.

 

 

 

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