Duck Donuts has opened its first international branch in Dubai Marina.
The American shop, known for its made-to-order doughnut concept, allows customers to create their own customised combination by choosing from a variety of coatings (such as maple syrup, chocolate, lemon or blueberry), toppings (including turkey bacon, Oreo crumbles, shredded coconut or peanuts) and drizzles (such as raspberry, marshmallow, Nutella or cream cheese).
The brand's main menu is known for its creative creations, including the Beach Ball, which consists of vanilla icing with rainbow sprinkles and chocolate drizzle, the Blueberry Lemonade, a doughnut with blueberry icing and lemon drizzle, and the Sand Dollar, which comes with vanilla icing, shredded coconut and powdered sugar.
The shop will also have specialities such as the Slam Duck, which is a scoop of ice cream on top of a warm Duck Donut, and includes flavours such as chocolate madness, blueberry pie, peanut butter crunch and lemon pie.
There's also the VerDuck Go, a milkshake that comes in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, blueberry, birthday cake, maple turkey bacon and more. Finally, the shop will have breakfast sandwiches that will be available to order all day.
“This is a project my team and I have been working on for over a year, and despite all the challenges we have faced as a result of Covid-19, I am beyond excited to introduce the UAE to the Duck Donuts’ made-to-order concept,” said owner Mohammed Albaqami.
“Pairing fresh and delicious doughnuts with the unique experience of customising and watching your doughnut being made from scratch to finish, is the perfect combination of food and fun for all ages. I am very happy to be bringing the brand 7,000 miles from its origins to offer the UAE a taste of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.”
The 2,200 square foot store reflects the franchise’s beach theme and it has limited indoor seating.
In addition to doughnuts, the Dubai location will also serve coffee, milkshakes and frozen drinks.
Duck Donuts first opened in Duck, North Carolina, in 2007. It has expanded throughout the US, and the brand now operates 87 shops, including one in Puerto Rico.
Duck Donuts is open daily from 7am to midnight. More information is available on the brand's Facebook and Instagram pages
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
