Dutch Bros. Coffee is a privately held drive-through coffee chain headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, United States, with company-owned and franchise locations throughout the western United States. Dutch Bros. is the country's largest privately held, drive-through coffee chain, with 284 stores in 7 western U.S. states.
History
Dutch Bros. was founded on February 12, 1992 by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma, third-generation dairy farmers in Grants Pass, Oregon. Originally, they worked at a coffee stand at Dutcher Creek Golf Course in Grants Pass. This is where the inspiration started, and where they would later get their business name from. They bought an espresso machine and experimented with a hundred pounds of coffee in their empty milk house in Grants Pass. After a month of handing out free samples to friends and family, the duo began serving up mochas and lattes at a pushcart set up in downtown Grants Pass. They named their company Dutch Brother's [sic] Coffee Company, or Dutch Bros. Over the next few years, permanent kiosks opened in other parts of the city, including a coffeehouse a few blocks from the original stand.
Menu
Dutch Bros. roasts all its own coffee, a three-bean blend sourced from direct relationships with Salvadorian, Brazilian, and Colombian coffee plantations. Flavored coffee drinks are made from ingredients such as Torani syrups, a blend of Dutch Chocolate milk, Oregon Chai, Pacific soy milk, and Harney & Sons teas. In October 2014, the company announced the release of Dutch Bros. Single-Serve Cups compatible with Keurig-style brewers. In 2012, the Company launched its own energy drink, Blue Rebel, and in May 2016 introduced Cold Brew Coffee.
Franchising
Dutch Bros. franchising is available to existing franchisees and employees only. An employee or franchisee must meet certain requirements before they are able to apply for a franchise. Employees who are able to franchise are asked to put forward as low as $5,000; The Company undertakes the cost of securing and financing locations and leases the locations to the new operators.
Media
On the November 15, 2013, episode of CBS' Undercover Boss, the co-founder Travis Boersma went undercover in his stores and to one of his El Salvadorian plantation suppliers, El Olvido plantation, which supplies them with roughly 25% of their coffee beans.
Charitable causes
In October 2009, co-founder Dane Boersma died of Lou Gehrig's disease. In his honor, all locations annually donate one designated day's proceeds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. From the May 5, 2017, "Drink one for Dane" event, $970,000 was collected to be donated to MDA for research and family services funding. Soon thereafter a vendor of the coffee stands donated thirty thousand more dollars to MDA to help the company reach its goal of donating one million dollars in 2017. Since the inception of the "Drink one for Dane" event, over $3.5 million has been raised for MDA. The company also participates annually in a "Buck for Kids Day", when part of the proceeds benefits regional non-profit organizations. In 2011, over $93,000 was raised for this cause. In addition to specific causes, 1% of gross sales is invested into the community by each retail location. Another cause Dutch Bros. raises money for is Breast Cancer Awareness.
In 2011, Dutch Bros gave back over $1 million in charitable donations, contributing to local food banks, the American Cancer Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well hosting various days where location profits go to local charities.
Each Valentine's Day, every Dutch Bros. location partners with a local food bank. In the past, the method of donation was through the collection of non-perishable food items, with this method in a matter of years they could successfully donate over 500,000 pounds (230,000 kg) of food. In recent years, the company has shifted away from food donation and moved toward cash donation. In 2017, they chose to donate $1 from every drink sold on February 14 to local food organizations. The 2017, and most recent, ‘Dutch Luv’ donation was approximately $251,671. This donation fueled the purchase of up to 1,761,697 pounds (799,092 kg) of food.
Dutch Bros’ Love Abounds Foundation was founded to support franchisees and employees as they invest in their communities and help others. This foundation supports programs in the four core areas of youth, music, health, and origins.
See also
- List of coffeehouse chains
- List of companies based in Oregon
References
External links
- http://www.coloradoan.com/story/eatdrink/2016/11/28/coffee-doughnuts-pizza-and-beer-tap-december/94435036/
- Portland Business Journal Honors 40 Under 40, The Portlander, February 18, 2010
- Dutch Bros.' Sales Increase in 2009; 10 New Stores Projected for 2010, press release via Business Wire
- Dutch Bros. coffee gives back with Buck for Kids Day, Eureka Times-Standard, December 9, 2009
- Dutch Bros. Coffee Injects Some "Dutch Luv" Into the Traditional French Press, a November 10, 2008 press release via marketwire.com
- "Grants Pass, Ore.-Based Coffee Firm Expands at its Own Pace" Medford Mail Tribune, November 30, 2005.
- Notice of Type II Decision Site Development Review (SDR) 2007-00001, from the official website of the City of Tigard, Oregon
- Dutch Bros. from Lane PR, Dutch Bros. public relations firm
- CNBC Article CNBC Article on "America's Fastest Growing Coffee Chains"
