He Built a Dunkin' Empire (100+ locations) cover art

He Built a Dunkin' Empire (100+ locations)

He Built a Dunkin' Empire (100+ locations)

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About this listen

Raj Patel is one of the most prolific franchise operators in the country.

His family started with one Dunkin’ in the late 1980s — today, Raj oversees a 100+ unit portfolio across Dunkin’, Dave’s Hot Chicken, and several other brands.

In this episode, we go deep into:

  • How Raj decides which brands to bet on
  • Why leadership matters more than food
  • What it’s really like to scale from 1 store to 100+
  • How he evaluates new builds vs acquisitions
  • Why Dave’s Hot Chicken felt like a “lottery ticket” — and actually paid off

This is a rare look into how elite multi-unit operators think about growth, risk, and long-term portfolio strategy.

If you’re serious about franchising, scaling restaurants, or building a durable operating business — this episode is for you.

⏱️ KEY TOPICS / CHAPTER THEMES (for platforms that surface these)
  • Growing from 1 Dunkin to 100+ stores
  • How Raj evaluates franchise brands
  • Dunkin as a portfolio “engine”
  • Betting early on Dave’s Hot Chicken
  • Why leadership beats product
  • Development vs acquisition strategy
  • Real estate, construction costs, and ROI
  • The future of QSR and drive-thru brands
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