OMAHA, Neb. — Dunkin’, which removed “Donuts” from its branding some years back, is now facing a shortage of doughnuts in several states, including Nebraska and New Mexico. Customers visiting Dunkin’ locations in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island on Thursday and Friday discovered that shelves were void of doughnuts, while signs were posted at entrances and drive-thru menus indicating that the popular pastries were unavailable “due to a manufacturing error.” Some venues did manage to offer “Munchkins,” which are essentially doughnut holes, on Friday.
Tyler Raikar, who works as a phlebotomist, expressed her surprise at her local Dunkin’ in west Omaha when she found out there were no doughnuts available. She remarked, “What? No doughnuts! That’s tragic!” Despite her disappointment, Raikar noted that her visit wasn’t entirely wasted since she was primarily interested in the coffee. She remains hopeful that the beloved doughnuts would be back in stock shortly.
The doughnut shortage is also resonating throughout Albuquerque and its nearby suburbs, with employees at various Duncan locations confirming the lack of doughnuts. While some attributed the issue to supply chain disruptions, others mentioned that delivery trucks were showing up empty-handed of the doughnuts for which the brand is widely recognized. Staff members expressed optimism that they would receive new stock by the following week.
At a Dunkin’ store in west Omaha, a manager stated she couldn’t provide further details about the shortage, due to corporate guidelines. She noted, however, that the situation was not exclusive to Nebraska but part of a larger national issue. In contrast, inspections of other Dunkin’ establishments in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Boston revealed that they were not facing any such shortages.
Dunkin’ stands as one of the largest coffee and doughnut chains globally, boasting over 13,200 outlets. Founded in 1950 in Massachusetts, the company was acquired for $11.3 billion in 2020 by Inspire Brands, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that also operates Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Jack D’Amato, spokesperson for Inspire Brands, confirmed that problems with a specific supplier had caused the doughnut shortages affecting stores in Nebraska and potentially in other regions, though he did not specify which states were involved. He mentioned that approximately 4% of Dunkin’s U.S. locations, which number more than 9,500, were impacted by the supply issue. D’Amato noted that the company is actively investigating the root of the problem and the extent of its effects, while also starting to restock some of the affected locations.
Previously known as Dunkin’ Donuts, the company rebranded itself in 2018 to focus more on its coffee and beverage offerings, which now constitute the majority of its sales. Attempts to reach Bryce Bares, who operates multiple Dunkin’ franchises in Nebraska, received no immediate response. However, Bares informed local media that some Dunkin’ outlets received subpar doughnut supplies from their vendors and would not serve those items to customers. He added that suppliers had resolved the problem, and his Nebraska franchises should resume offering doughnuts shortly.
