CHENNAI: Chennai may not be the first metro for this popular franchise to open shop in India. But it well might have made for the craziest opening day. After the word got out on social media that Dunkin’ Donuts was opening - close to 1,000 youngsters gathered in queues that seemed to be never ending at the outlet on Saturday, from as early as 8.30 am. The first five hundred got to take home complimentary goodie bags of assorted classics from the menu. But at half past six in the evening when crowds looked like they were far from thinning — we had to go in and take a look for ourselves.
“Every single one of the people who showed up on our first day in Chennai got to take home a booklet with a coupon for a free doughnut for every day of the year,” says head chef Peter D’Mello, who is clearly as good with his marketing strategies as he is in the kitchen.
And with an array of flavours that range from their signature glaze and a blue peppermint topping to their forever favourite ‘Death by Chocolate’ — there’s no dearth of options on the menu scale for eager newcomers to the franchise. In fact, Felix Daniel, head of product development and beverages adds, “A bulk of our menu which includes burgers and wraps has well has been designed specifically for the Indian market.” With promises of uncommon flavour combinations and textures that one has to taste to understand, we request one of their desi doughnut creations to sample. And on the innovation scale — it was a slam dunk.
Ever imagined white chocolate, guava and red chilli flakes? Well now you don’t you have to. As it turns out, doughnuts can be anything you want them to be, as long as your palate has an adventurous side, that is.