Looks like we'll be makin' runs to just the Single D from now on
Dunkin' Donuts announced today it's changin' its name to just Dunkin' - because today's hard-chargin' consumers in this fast-paced world deserve a brand nimble enough to keep up with them, or somethin' like that, in the words of Dunkin' marketers tryin' to upscale a place that for decades has turned a profit sellin' simple coffee-like beverages and food-like substances to bleary-eyed people just tryin' to get to work:
"By simplifying and modernizing our name, while still paying homage to our heritage, we have an opportunity to create an incredible new energy for Dunkin', both in and outside our stores," said Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin' U.S. "We are bringing the iconic name Dunkin' to the forefront in a bold way that brings to life how we refill optimism with each cup and bring fun, joy and delight to our customers each and every day."
Thank God, they'll be keepin' their fluorescent pink and orange logo colors. And, the company admits, way down in its press release, they'll still sell those factory-crafted donuts and Munchkin's you will continue to scarf down.
If you feel an urgent need to try out one of the new Dunkin's, which the company says will let it continue to keep its brand relevant "for generations to come," there's already one on Washington Street in Roslindale, between the CVS and the Domino's, featurin' such 21st-century marvels as "an eight-headed tap system for cold beverages encouraging crew members to serve guests like bartenders, a glass bakery case putting donuts in the forefront within arm's reach of guests." It's mainly a drive-through, though, so to fully appreciate its wonders, park in the commodious lot and boldly walk right in.
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Wait
We kids and kids-at-heart can still call it Drunken Grownups, right?
Gentrication comes to DD
Will they win the kids over?
Brand of Coffee = Productivity
you can tell who the best employees are just by the coffee they drink.
Dunkin = Below Average
Starbucks = Average
Nero = Above Average
Home Brewed = Great!
Every hiring manager should what coffee one drinks during an interview.
And how would you rank people who
don't drink coffee at all?
So what about the locals?
Boston Common Coffee, Pavement, Flat Black, Thinking Cup, Red Barn, Diesel, Bloc 11, etc?
jump and go-nuts
jump and go-nuts
Medium coffee please.
Hold the vowels.
Coffee
makes a lot of people move their vowels.
Dunks
For those finding two syllables too many.
DUNKS indeed
Missed opportunity here.
Much cleaner.
They could have done some NBA tie ins.
Good call losing the Donuts name tho. If I had a box in front of me trapped in a room I’d probably wait til day two to even nibble on one.
Trash
This is trash. I bet they spent millions on market research to come to this stupid conclusion, as if this is going to bring in more people somehow?
Just, so, so pointless.
You took the time to comment
Buzz matters.
I stopped buying donuts at Dunkin Donuts
Way back when they outsourced the production from individual stores to area production facilities. Probably 10 years or more ago
I am fortunate to live near a Heavenly Donuts whose food is far superior to Dunkins. Their breakfast sandwiches are some of the best in the business.
It's probably more like 20+.
It's probably more like 20+. I had a friend who was a baker at the local Dunks, and the owners were one if the last holdouts to switch. It was a good paying gig for someone without a college degree, $15/hr back in the 1990s. Another friend worked the counter and told me they switched making breakfast sandwiches with real eggs to using these pre-formed rubber patties with a slice of rubber on top. She refered to it as "rubber egg". Now everything is kind of tasteless, and I'm certain the donuts have gotten a lot smaller over the years. I hardly ever stop in for something that's not a "medium regular", and I've got to be pretty desperate.
I recall the then-old-school
I recall the then-old-school one at Market and Western in Brighton was one of the last to bake on-site- and was something of a regional hub for other stores- around 1999-2000 or so?
I kind of lucked into it being my local stop when I lived there around there
Back when they had the
Back when they had the beautiful neon sign
I used to frequent that store
I used to frequent that store in the mid-80's, got my Sunday Globe from the Store 24 a block up, a coffee and doughnuts, and checked out the video store next door to see if there was anything worthwhile.
I’m with you on the sandwiches...
I’m old enough to remember when they cracked an actual egg and microwaved it for the breakfast sandwiches.
Once they switched to the yellow styrofoam, I gave up. Every time I’ve thought “well maybe they’ve gotten better” and given them another chance, I’ve regretted it.
As far as the name change: ridiculous.
There are a fair amount of
There are a fair amount of places I'd rather go to for a coffee than DD(or is it D?), such as McDonald's, Starbucks or a gas station that sells New England Coffee for a buck.
My terrible secret
I have never once tasted Dunkin Donuts coffee.
There, I said it, and I feel much better.
Martha!
The smellin' salts, quick! I feel faint!
Two different Dunkin's
I've had both Dunkin' Dunkin' and (what I call) Supermarket Dunkin'.
They do not taste the same.
And if you want to continue feeling better..
...continue to avoid their coffee. It sucks.
The bagels always seem stale,
The bagels always seem stale, the donuts tend to be dry these days. It takes 20 minutes because the staff members have 5000 items they have to be able to produce at a moments notice.
I wish they would split the stores into two. Have half be Dunkin Cafes that serve the whole menu and the other half as DD Express that just will pump out coffee, donuts, tea and soft drinks.
App
use the app. No joke.
I order, I click "ready to pick up" and my coffee is waiting. No waits. No Lines.
My only complaint is you have to load a DD card to use it.. its lame. I just want to pay with my credit card....
In full agreement
I gave up on the app because of the DD Perks requirement.
okay and...
Okay and this will change my experience how?
I mean its an ice coffee after lunch daily... not much can change about that. I don't care what the cup says as long as the coffee is the same.
tbh, somewhat smart move. As best described by Brian D'Amico..
Meaning the focus of Dunkin Donuts hasn't really been about the donuts in many, many years. (and the quality of the donuts shows that these days)
Nice try, Dunkin’ US
Nice try, Dunkin’ US marketing exec
LOL
LOL are we telling jokes here?
So not a DD exec.. you must be new here. I'm a regular commenter for almost 6 years. So not a DD Exec.
Just Drop The 'America' From United States of America
while you're at it!
DONUTS - LOVE 'EM OR LEAVE 'EM !! And don't let the door hit you in your healthy toned low-cholesterol ass on the way out!
Careful
Vacuums need to be filled and if you did that a certain somebody might try to slap HIS name on it like he does everything else.
Is Starbucks changing its
Is Starbucks changing its name to "Bucks"?
Your Barista
Calls it 'bucks.
Having had kids work at both 'bucks and dunks, I rarely set foot in a dunks anymore. They do not do well by their employees - a good manager once in a while makes a difference, but your 'bucks barista is better paid, has more say about what schedule they get, and gets benefits if they need them.
The Dunkin Donuts in the
The Dunkin Donuts in the State Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza (on the Stuart Street side) has the new, shorter name and the tap system, etc.
Name changes like this always strike me as an act of desperation, like when Radio Shack rebranded itself The Shack. But Dunkin Donuts is doing fine, right? What’s the point?
The point
I bet if you investigated, you'd find some new executives who had an urge to change something, so they'd look like they were making a difference. So they hire a branding consultant, who comes up with this brilliant campaign.
The most Mass intro to a story in a British newspaper EVAH
'It'll always be Dunks to me': New England reacts to Dunkin' dropping the Donuts.
I agree with Marco and Swander. Ridiculous waste of money.
Times change and the days of a dozen donuts for the family after the Catholic Sunday Mass are long gone, as is attendance at the Catholic Mass. Also awareness that donuts are probably bad for you. I'm sure keeping a few varieties of donuts and breakfast/lunch sandwiches with decent coffee would go a long way but they would still be cooked in microwave. Might as well order on Amtrak. Ill-advised marketing gimmicks are foolish, New Coke, the AYDS diet pill "try AYDS" during the AIDS epidemic and many others
As noted by another commenter, the donuts are baked off-location at a commissary but with that money savings comes the lack of sensory (olfactory/smell) that might tempt you to buy some.
As for the trite stereotype that cops loves donuts, untrue. They love the coffee to stay awake during a slow shift.
New Coke was a deliberate failure
A huge ploy to disguise the fact that management changed the basic Coca-Cola formula at the time from primarily sugar based to primarily HFCS based. Coca Cola "Classic" is not, nor has it ever been, the same as pre-New Coke, Coca Cola.
Sticks be damned!
Bring back the CRULLER!
Bostonians, whatever you do,
Bostonians, whatever you do, don't ever EVER say:
"I'm drinking the D."
"I'm in line for the D."
"I need the D."
"I want the D."
"I love the D."
Shouldn't that be "munchkings
Shouldn't that be "munchkings"?
Way to kill a brand, fellas.
(n/t)
If they were really nimble
they would drop the apostrophe. I dont need no fukin apostrophe.
or c's
Apparently
Are their other menu items
Are their other menu items dunkable?
They don't own the domain Dunkin.com
Seems like that is going to complicate the rebranding. The owner is someone whose last name is Dunkin, so I can't see him giving the domain up easily.