Shipley Do-Nuts chain ramps up expansion

Shipley Do-Nuts has Georgia on it mind.

The 85-year-old specialty food brand has signed deals to open 30 locations in the Peachtree State. Its first store in Georgia will open later this year, in Duluth.

Shipley, which recently entered South Carolina,  is currently in rapid growth mode, with agreements in place for more than 350 new locations throughout Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and Colorado during the next five years. The company currently has more than 330 locations across 10 states.

Founded in 1936 in Houston, Shipley Do-Nuts shops offer more than 60 varieties of freshly made “do-nuts,” including its iconic plain glazed, as well as coffee, kolaches, cinnamon rolls, bear claws, fritters, and more.

"It's been our stated goal to get Georgia into our new store pipeline, so having these deals inked is an important milestone for our growth strategy," said Shipley CEO Clifton Rutledge.

The expansion is driven by two franchisee groups. Dallas-based ARFD Foods LLC, operated by Andrew Robertson and Franklin Diaz, signed an agreement in mid-March to open up to 25 Shipley Do-Nuts locations, including the first one in Duluth.

Also joining the Shipley operation is Oziel Rodriguez, operating as Sweet Donuts Investments Inc., who has agreements to open five Shipley Do-Nuts locations. He currently owns Coal Mountain Package Store and Palapas Bar and Grill in Cumming, Georgia.