Shipley Do-Nuts, a US doughnut brand headquartered in Houston, Texas, has signed a development deal with Virentes Partners Group unveiling plans for a significant expansion into Florida and Tennessee.
The company will open 22 new stores under a franchise agreement with the hospitality arm of Virentes Partners Group.
Virentes Partners Group operates multiple franchise brands through its subsidiary, Virentes Hospitality.
The opening of three Shipley Do-Nuts locations in Nashville, Tennessee and Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida is set for 2025.
Virentes managing member and chief investment officer Jim D'Aquila said: "We exhaustively researched dozens of franchise concepts to expand our hospitality portfolio, and Shipley came out on top with craveable and highly differentiated products and an outstanding leadership team.
"The Shipley team is committed to the brand and franchisee success, with exceptional unit economics, a strong business model and opportunities for growth. Shipley's products are the finest in the category, and their 'Make Life Delicious' slogan rings true with the millions who have experienced the brand."
Established in 1936, Shipley is known for its fresh, handmade doughnuts produced daily.
Its offerings include more than 60 varieties including its signature plain glazed doughnut cut into the unique Shipley hexagon shape, along with filled, iced and cake donuts, bear claws, kolaches [sweet fruit pastries] and coffee.
Shipley CEO Flynn Dekker said: “It was clear from early on that Jim and the team at Virentes understood the food and beverage market and more importantly, our mission to expand into new markets.
“This partnership demonstrates the strong confidence our franchise partners have in our brand and our growth strategy. As we continue to modernise our operations and enhance our customer experience, investments like these are crucial in bringing the Shipley magic to more communities.”
To ensure operational excellence and enterprise development for the upcoming locations, Virentes recently appointed Andrew Povec as vice-president of operations.
The company has initiated the hiring process for general managers to lead the first stores.
Shipley has experienced rapid growth, exceeding 360 units in 2024, and is poised to achieve consecutive years of record openings.
With more than 110 units added to its development pipeline in 2024 alone, Shipley is also set to enter two new markets, North Carolina and Virginia, in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.
In November, Shipley announced its first-ever holiday menu in 2024.
Available until 31 December or while stocks last, the menu includes seasonal candy cane-themed doughnuts and beverages and a savoury kolache option.
