[EXCLUSIVE] Texas Chain to Bring its "Do-Nuts" to Atlanta

With Whataburger slated to open its first two Atlanta area locations later this year and Buc-ee's already with two locations open in Georgia, another Texas favorite now has its eyes set on a Peach state premiere.  Shipley Do-Nuts, a Houston-based franchise specializing in do-nuts (of which the company offers 60 varieties!), kolaches, and coffee, recently signed two franchise agreements that are expected to bring as many as 30 locations to the Atlanta area in the coming years.  

There are currently approximately 350 Shipley Do-Nuts locations across the country with the majority of them in the company's home market of Texas.  Shipley, however, is currently in rapid growth mode, with agreements in place for more than 350 new locations to open throughout Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and Colorado over the next five years.

Shipley's has since June 2021 been led by Chief Executive Officer Clifton Rutledge.  Prior to Shipley's, Rutledge was COO of Birmingham's Jack's Family Restaurants.  His previous roles also include President/CEO of Bojangles'​ Restaurants, Inc. and before that, COO of Whataburger.  

Rutledge's hiring came a few months after the January 2021 acquisition of Shipley's by Austin-based private equity firm Peak Rock Capital.  The Shipley family, which had owned the chain since its founding in 1936, reportedly retained a financial stake in the company although Peak Rock acquired a majority share.  Now, with Peak Rock's financial backing, Shipley's is looking to ramp up franchise expansion, especially in the south.  

Dallas-based ARFD Foods LLC, operated by Andrew Robertson and Franklin Diaz, signed an agreement in March to open up to 25 Shipley Do-Nuts locations in Georgia, including the first one, which is slated to open later this year in Duluth.  Diaz, who is originally from the Atlanta area, was introduced to Shipley's when he moved to Dallas.  “I was impressed with the brand love Shipley has in Texas, and after meeting with the company’s new leadership, I knew I wanted to be part of growing the brand in new markets,” said Diaz. 

Joining AFRD in expanding Shipley in Georgia is Oziel Rodriguez, operating as Sweet Donuts Investments Inc., who has an agreement to open five Shipley Do-Nuts locations. Rodriguez, who currently owns Coal Mountain Package Store and Palapas Bar and Grill in Cumming, was introduced to the Shipley brand by his brother who worked at a Shipley Do-Nuts in McAllen, Texas.  

The impending arrival of Shipley's comes at a time when several other regional coffee and donut chains are also planning to the enter the greater metro Atlanta market.  

ToNeTo Atlanta has reported in recent weeks on multiple new Scooter's Coffee locations planned for Atlanta, and news of Canada's Tim Hortons planned arrival in metro Atlanta made waves earlier this week.  There is also talk that Grants Pass, Oregon-based Dutch Bros. Coffee (NYSE: BROS) may be seeking to enter the Atlanta market, too.  

Are you excited for the arrival of Shipley Do-Nuts in Georgia?  Where would you like to see Shipley's open in metro Atlanta?  What other Texas chain would you like to see enter the Atlanta market?

Please share your thoughts below.