The Texan bakery café chain says Dekker’s 30 years’ executive leadership experience will deliver accelerated outlet and sales growth as it seeks to reach more than 600 US stores by 2027
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Shipley Do-Nuts currently operates 340 stores across the US | Photo credit: Shipley Do-Nuts
Shipley Do-Nuts has appointed Flynn Dekker as its new CEO as the bakery café chain seeks to accelerate outlet expansion across the US and increase same-store sales.
Dekker, who previously served as CEO of Korean fast-food restaurant chain Bonchon, succeeds Clifton Rutledge, who will return to Shipley Do-Nut's board of directors.
“I feel privileged to lead such an iconic company and support our continued expansion. Shipley has a strong foundation established over the last 87 years and a tremendous group of employees and franchisee partners. I look forward to working with the team to further accelerate Shipley's growth trajectory by continuing to expand our footprint and invest in our franchisees' success with exceptional ingredients, equipment, technology and service,” Dekker said.
Texas-based Shipley Do-Nuts said Dekker brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industries alongside a ‘strong track record of executing significant growth’.
“Flynn is an exceptionally strong leader and brings an impressive background across numerous executive roles, and his experience and talent will help to continue driving significant growth in the business through new unit expansion, same-store sales growth and enhanced operations,” said Robert Strauss, member of the Shipley Do-Nuts board of directors.
Shipley Do-Nuts currently operates 340 stores across the US, having opened 14 new outlets and signed 11 multi-unit franchise agreements in 2022 which will add nearly 100 sites to its new store pipeline.
The bakery café chain is currently seeking to expand across select southern US states as part of a wider company goal of operating more than 600 stores nationwide by 2027.
In January 2023, the bakery café chain projected double-unit growth this year compared to 2022, with development agreements in place to bring the bakery café chain to at least three new US states.
Following increased digital sales in its first quarter, Shipley Do-Nuts plans to introduce a new loyalty programme across all its stores in 2023.