Dunkin’ Donuts’ expansion plans may create coffee clash: Chain could put damper on Starbucks’ local growth
The return of Dunkin’ Donuts to the metropolitan area last month gave java lovers here their first whiff of a brewing coffee war. The Boston-area-based chain’s Carmel location is one of 80 franchised stores slated to open within the next eight years. Its re-entry into the market is part of a national campaign to more than double the number of its 6,000 locations by reinventing itself to challenge Seattle’s Starbucks. Dunkin’ Donuts is rolling out concept stores with hipper furniture…