Dunkin' Donuts announces the signing of multi-unit store development agreements with seven franchise groups to develop 51 new restaurants in Virginia and West Virginia over the next several years.

The seven franchise groups and their development plans include:

Existing franchise group TBG Food Acquisition Corp., led by John Troiano and Peter Marrinan, plans to develop 22 new restaurants in Roanoke, Lynchburg and Blacksburg, Va. This team currently owns and operates 60 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and six Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops in New York and South Carolina, with an additional five Dunkin' Donut locations presently in development. Their first Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in Roanoke is planned to open by year-end, and the remainder by 2023.  

New franchisees Atul and Aruna Patel plan to develop three restaurants in Harrisonburg, Va. Two restaurants will be traditional Dunkin' Donuts locations, and the third will be a multi-brand with sister brand Baskin-Robbins. This husband and wife team have worked at and managed Dunkin' Donuts restaurants for over a decade and have over 15 years of experience in the restaurant and retail industry. The duo's first restaurant is planned to open in 2015, and the remainder by 2017.

Existing franchisees Gregory and Emil Nigro of Restaurant Services of the Outer Banks plan to develop ten restaurants in the greater Norfolk, Va. metropolitan area. This team currently operates 17 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants, and this past May signed a development agreement for 14 new locations throughout Richmond.

Existing franchise group The Heritage Group, LLC, led by Luis Cabral, plans to develop three restaurants in Richmond, Va. This team currently operates one Dunkin' Donuts restaurant. Cabral's next restaurant is planned to open in 2017, and the remainder by 2019.

Existing franchise group C+ Management, led by Masul Haque, plans to develop three restaurants in Gainesville and South Riding, Va. This group currently operates three Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in Virginia, and their next restaurant is planned to open in 2016.

Existing franchisee Alpa Patel plans to develop five restaurants in Culpeper and Tyson's Corner, Va. Patel is also part of a network that owns and operates Dunkin' Donuts throughout Northern Virginia and Southern New Jersey. Her next Dunkin' Donuts restaurant is planned to open in Spring 2015.

Existing franchise group Little General Stores, led by Greg Darby, plans to develop five new restaurants in Charleston and Beckley, WV. This team currently operates more than 60 quick-service restaurant concepts throughout West Virginia and owns more than 80 gas and convenience operations. Their next Dunkin' Donuts restaurant is planned to open in 2016.

"Our enthusiastic and dedicated franchisees contribute to our brand's growth, which has helped solidify our position as one of the fastest growing brand's by unit count in the quick-service restaurant industry," said Grant Benson, CFE, vice president of global franchising and business development, Dunkin' Brands. "We are thrilled these existing and new franchisees haven chosen to expand in the Virginia and West Virginia markets, and know these new restaurants will satisfy a growing consumer demand in the local communities they serve."