The Ad Changes With the Shopper In Front of It†

Some Digital Screens Could Adjust Messages Based on Features

Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2008 — Ad targeting is coming to a store near you.

In the latest effort to tailor ads to specific consumers, marketers are starting to personalize in-store promotions based on products the consumer recently picked off a shelf or purchased — and in the near future, based on what the shopper looks like.

Dunkin' 'on the Offensive' in Coffee War†

New Marketing Chief Aims to Establish Chain as Beverage Leader

Advertising Age, January 24, 2008 — America may run on Dunkin', but Dunkin' runs on Will Kussell.

As the coffee war with McDonald's heats up this year, the $4.7 billion, privately held doughnut chain has tapped Mr. Kussell, 49, as president-chief brand officer. Mr. Kussell has held a variety of marketing jobs, including senior VP-marketing and retail concept officer, during his 13-year tenure with Dunkin' Donuts, which has 5,300 U.S. locations. He was most recently chief operating officer of parent company Dunkin' Brands.

McDonald's Takes On a Weakened Starbucks†

Food Giant to Install Specialty Coffee Bars, Sees $1 Billion Business

Wall Street Journal, January 7, 2008 — This fall, a McDonald's here added a position to its crew: barista.

McDonald's is setting out to poach Starbucks customers with the biggest addition to its menu in 30 years. Starting this year, the company's nearly 14,000 U.S. locations will install coffee bars with "baristas" serving cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and the Frappe, similar to Starbucks' ice-blended Frappuccino.

Internal documents from 2007 say the program, which also will add smoothies and bottled beverages, will add $1 billion to McDonald's annual sales of $21.6 billion.

Dunkin' Donuts Whips Up A Recipie for Expansion†

Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2007 — Joe Rando has had no problem selling baked goods to residents of Nashville, Tenn., since he opened the first Dunkin' Donuts in the area in August. On opening day, he even sold out of doughnuts. But getting locals to make Dunkin' their regular stop for coffee — which has a higher profit margin than baked goods — has been more challenging. "Dunkin' is truly entrenched as a ritual for Northeastern customers," says Mr. Rando. In Nashville, he says, "we haven't necessarily changed the behavior — the coffee-buying behavior — yet."

Dunkin’ duking it out in supermarkets

Boston Herald, March 1, 2007 — Dunkin’ Donuts coffee will soon join Starbucks in fighting for shelf space with Folgers and Maxwell House at stores nationwide. Dunkin’ Brands Inc. signed a long-term agreement for brand behemoth Procter & Gamble to distribute packaged whole bean and ground Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to U.S. grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores and other retailers within a year.

Ad Age Marketer of the Year†

Marketing 50 Report

Advertising Age, November 14, 2006 — That's Toyota in Detroit's rear-view mirror, and it's closing fast with a lineup of vehicle designs, advertising campaigns and promotional strategies that have made it a hit with American consumers as well as Advertising Age's 2006 Marketer of the Year

Dunkin Donuts A more perfect pastry

MSN, March 8, 2005 — Something is amiss at Dunkin' Donuts. The store's loyal constituents-cops, firemen, construction workers-report disturbing sightings of soy milk.