Worcester Business Journal reports Franchisees: No Worries On Dunkin' Donuts IPO. The Dunkin' Donuts franchisee community is relieved Nigel Travis has signed on for another five years according to DDIFO President, Jim Coen.

Jim Coen, president of Bellingham-based Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners Inc., said that from his members’ perspective the most important thing about what the company has said so far is the things it won’t change. Coen said franchisees breathed a sigh of relief to see that Nigel Travis, who became the company’s president and CEO in 2009, has signed on for five more years on the job. While there had been tension between franchise owners and previous corporate leaders, Coen said his members have found the company easy to work with under Travis.

Franchisee Robert Branca said, "franchisees aren’t worried about any big shake-ups." and added, "another source of security for franchise owners is that they — rather than Dunkin’ itself — control the brand’s supply chain."

Franchisee ownership of the supply chain must be a recent revelation in the Dunkin' Donuts franchise system given their tortured history of shake-ups at both the franchisor and the franchisee levels. The renewed strength in Dunkin' Donuts franchisee relationships assures Branca to invest in Dunkin's upcoming IPO.

Branca said he’s hopeful enough about the IPO that, assuming the terms offered to franchisees are reasonable, he plans to buy stock himself.