Oh, it's on!
Donut Wars: Dunkin' boldly enters Houston market where Shipley reigns supreme
At the end of the day, there are really just three types of donuts in the U.S. — the Krispy Kreme, the Dunkin' and the Shipley.
Lucky for us, the far-superior Shipley Do-Nuts has called Texas home since the original shop was opened in Houston at the height of the Great Depression. Made from a perfect recipe of whole wheat and lighter-than-air potato flour, Lawrence Shipley's legendary donuts occupy that sweet spot between the too-light and too-dense varietals offered by Krispy and Dunkin', respectively.
While Krispy Kreme has more or less given up on the Houston market, Dunkin' has been creepin' on local donut lovers for the last decade with several outposts outside the loop in Pasadena, Bellaire and at the Hobby Airport.
Dunkin' is even looking to the Dallas Cowboys to help tackle the Lone Star State, partnering with Jerry Jones and Troy Aikman to open at least 50 stores.
On Monday, Dunkin' Donuts announced a bold new attack with 16 franchises planned for Houston — and five for San Antonio — in the next half decade. The push is part of a broader effort by the company to double its number of stores across the country with a particular focus on Texas.
Dunkin' is even looking to the Dallas Cowboys to help tackle the Lone Star State, partnering with both Jerry Jones and Troy Aikman to open a minimum of 50 new Dunkin's throughout the Dallas/Forth Worth metroplex by 2017.
"Our secret to success is our passionate franchisees who provide a high-level of customer service to our guests every day," said Grant Benson, vice president of Dunkin' brand development, in a statement Monday. "We believe these new franchisees will cultivate lasting customer relationships and become an integral part of the San Antonio and Houston communities."
What's this guy trying to say? Does he not see the Shipley drive-thru traffic blocking streets on the weekends? Is that not "integral" enough?
Admittedly however, Shipley does have a bit of an Achilles' heel when it comes to coffee. No matter how much instant creamer they give you, that cup of Shipleys brew will look pretty sad when the Dunkaccino rolls into town.