To ride the growing health trend that is currently sweeping the United States, Dunkin Donuts has announced that it will be introducing new menu items that utilize new and healthier food technologies. The coffee and fast food company revealed that it will soon be offering more than just donuts in its menu. The new items will include sandwiches and wraps that will have plant-based protein "meats."
According to the company's CEO, David Hoffman, the company is planning to use plant-based proteins in some of its menu items very soon. Hoffman revealed the company's plans at a televised program late last week. Dunkin' recently reported its first-quarter earnings, beating analysts' estimates.
Dunkin Donuts currently offers breakfast sandwiches and bowls on top of its staple coffee and donuts. The company also offers bagels and the other baked goods as well as a variety of hot and cold beverages. The firm has mainly been focusing on offering cheaper breakfast items as part of its strategy to stay on top of its main competitors.
The company had launched a rebranding campaign at the start of the year, changing its name from Dunkin Donuts to just Dunkin'. The firm also revealed its intention of becoming a "beverage-led company" moving forward. Dunkin currently boasts 12,000 locations in 36 different countries. This essentially makes it the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world.
In line with its rebranding and its goal of offering cheap breakfast items, Dunkin' launched its new Go2s value menu at the start of the year. The value meals include a choice of two breakfast items with prices ranging from US$2 to US$5.
The company also started promoting itself as a health-conscious establishment with the addition of several low-calorie options. These food items are mainly targeting customers who are looking for healthier breakfast meals. The low-calorie items include its signature Power Breakfast Sandwich and its Egg White Bowl meal.
The company's announcement of its adoption of plant-based meat products comes at the heels of Beyond Meat's recent IPO. The first publicly-listed plant-based meat producer had performed remarkably well in the markets, with its stocks rising by more than 160 percent in its first day of trading. This essentially made the company the most successful IPO so far this year.
The plant-based meat substitute market is steadily growing in the United States and investors are taking notice. The market is currently worth more than US$1.44 billion, but market estimates predict that it could be worth more than US$2.5 billion by 2023.
