2Is Dunkin’ Donuts on the way out of Shenzhen?
Posted: 08/6/2013 11:00 amDunkin Donuts joined the likes of other international food shops to give it a go here in China with some of their first stores in Shenzhen. They seemed to have a bit of a following, and quickly opened in Dongmen. Soon after, they sprung up in the CBD near the Exhibition Centre, Coastal City, the Kingkey Banner Centre, Shekou Seaworld, and finally in the underground mall, Link City.
They’ve been offering similar fare to what they have in the US: doughnuts and coffee (hot, iced, or frozen), but it never seemed to get the recipe exactly the same (the texture was a bit off). They also sold souvenir mugs, large boxes of coffee to go (“Boxes of Joe”) and some fancier desserts like cheesecakes and sandwiches. But while it seemed they were on an aggressive expansion drive, now it appears they’re going in reverse.
Since last month many Dunkin’ Donut shops been closing around Shenzhen. All of the venues above have closed except for the one at Coastal City. Is this another foreign fast food concept that couldn’t catch on in China? Do Chinese not appreciate donuts?! Or maybe their doughnuts were too sugary for the country that finds many of the Western desserts too sweet. Let’s hope this isn’t the end of Dunkin’ in Shenzhen.
To be fair, Chinese don’t know the difference between the taste of cream and the taste of sugar. The Dunkin Donuts concept is the donuts are cooked that day. That’s how I eat them in London, fresh. I did enjoy the Shenzhen DD but they where obviously not cooked that day, and the obvious penny pinching in how the ingredients had been mized up was apparent. They are cheaper in the UK too with a box of 12 good black forests only setting you back under 100 yuan.
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