Dunkin' is returning to Canada with plans to open hundreds of new locations across the country [1].
The move marks a strategic re-entry into a competitive North American market where the brand has been absent for several years. By establishing a nationwide presence, the company aims to compete directly with domestic giants such as Tim Hortons.
The expansion is being executed through a master franchising agreement with Foodtastic, a restaurant franchisor based in Montreal [1]. This partnership is managed under the broader umbrella of Inspire Brands, the parent company of Dunkin'.
Rollouts will target major Canadian cities, including Toronto and Montreal [1]. While the company has not released a specific store-by-store schedule, the expansion is intended to be a comprehensive nationwide effort.
The timeline for the return varies slightly across reports. Some projections indicate that the first stores will open in late 2026 or early 2027 [1]. Other reports said that hundreds of locations are expected to be operational by 2027 [2].
This return follows a long period of absence for the brand in the region. The last Dunkin' location in Quebec closed in 2018 [3]. The new agreement with Foodtastic provides the infrastructure necessary for a more aggressive scale of growth than the brand previously achieved in Canada.
Foodtastic will oversee the development and operation of the stores, leveraging its experience in the Canadian quick-service restaurant sector to manage the rollout of the coffee and donut chain [1].
“Dunkin' is returning to Canada with plans to open hundreds of new locations across the country”
The return of Dunkin' signals a high-stakes challenge to Tim Hortons' dominance in the Canadian coffee market. By partnering with a local franchisor like Foodtastic, Dunkin' is attempting to avoid the pitfalls that led to its 2018 exit from Quebec, opting for a scalable, locally managed infrastructure to ensure long-term viability.
