For years Dunkin’ Donuts made exceptions for Elkhatib, even providing him signs for his restaurants that read “No meat products available,” he asserts in court documents.
The company introduced breakfast sandwiches in 1984, five years after Elkhatib bought his first franchise, which he later sold.
“That’s why I bought a Dunkin’ Donuts, because I never had to handle pork or alcohol.”
The three-judge panel found troubling evidence that the company did not consistently apply its rules on franchise holders. At least three other Chicago-area Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants also do not serve breakfast sandwiches with pork.
The reasons are different from Elkhatib’s — lease restrictions in one case, space limitations in another and customer demand for kosher food in the third.
The company cut those franchise holders, who are not of Arab descent, a break, even allowing one to renew his lease after the decision was made to deny renewal of Elkhatib’s franchise.
Pork at issue in doughnut franchise row (Chicago Tribune)
Dunkin’ Donuts has a track record of actively seeking individuals who are ideally qualified to become franchisees without regard to their race, color, gender, national origin or religion. We are proud to say a significant portion of our franchisees are comprised of women, minorities, and first generation Americans. —Dunkin’ Donuts franchise FAQ
Wonder if this guy’s sudden problem has to do with “the most significant repositioning effort in the company’s 55-year history”? I can see the ads now: America runs on Muslim-free coffee! Oh, and by the way, Dunkin’ Brands was acquired by the Carlyle Group (George’s daddy’s company) in March 2006.
bush went to dunkin’ donuts