Dunkin’ Donuts has introduced almond milk as a premium nondairy option at most of its more than 7,500 restaurants in the United States.
Vanilla Almond Breeze Almondmilk is now available at about 75 percent of domestic locations. Parent company Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. has suggested a 50-cent surcharge for adding almond milk instead of dairy to hot or iced coffee, although pricing is at the discretion of franchisees.
Dunkin’ Brands president for global marketing and innovation John Costello said in a press release that almond milk was being introduced in response to consumer demand.
“Over the past couple of years, based on an increasing number of customer requests, we began to explore options for expanding our menu with nondairy alternatives to milk and cream,” he said. “We believe adding Almond Breeze Almondmilk now gives our guests a unique and delicious new way to enjoy our famous coffee or lattes.”
Almond milk is enjoying increasing popularity in the United States, with consumption growing at an average annual rate of 66 percent since 2010, and now accounting for 46.4 percent of all milk alternatives, which also includes soy milk and coconut milk, according to the Almond Board of California.
Dunkin’ Donuts and its almond milk supplier, Blue Diamond, promoted the introduction of the product with an “AlmonDD Milk Adventures” Twitter Sweepstakes, presenting followers of @DunkinDonuts and @AlmondBreeze with almond-milk-themed challenges such as word scrambles. Participants who responded with the hashtag #AlmonDDmilk were entered for a chance to win one $100 Dunkin’ Donuts mobile gift card and a $500 grand prize.
The addition of almond milk, a product that first took hold in the United States among vegans and juice cleanse enthusiasts, is the latest change in coffee offerings at Dunkin’ Donuts as it continues to expand beyond its Northeast U.S. stronghold. Last week, the chain introduced its first dark-roast coffee at two new California locations and said it would roll it out nationwide on Sept. 22.
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