Dunkin' Donuts is planning to open up 24 restaurants in the Birmingham market.
The restaurant chain said in a statement on Tuesday that it has signed a development agreement with Barista Food LLC for 16 restaurants in the Birmingham area by 2018. Barista Food is led by Ramon Arias' family, which operates more than 38 Little Caesars locations in Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia.
Locations are already under development in Trussville, Jasper and Warrior.
Coffee Cafe Inc., led by Ali Chunara, plans to open eight Dunkin' Donuts locations in the Birmingham area, with the first planned to open in 2013 and the remainder of the stores by 2018. Locations of those stores were not disclosed.
Dunkin' Donuts also recently signed a development agreement with Star Restaurant Group for nine locations in Birmingham.
Dunkin' Brands Group Inc. currently has one restaurant in Birmingham at 2109 Sixth Ave. S., and one each in Bessemer and Pelham.
The company said Birmingham is officially sold out for franchises, but franchise opportunities are available in Huntsville and Montgomery.
"We believe these new franchisee partners will cultivate lasting customer relationships and become integral parts of their local communities," said Grant Benson, CFE, vice president of Development, Dunkin' Brands, Inc.
