Dunkin’ Donuts to open stores in Stop & Shops

RANDOLPH – Dunkin’ Donuts, Inc., announced that it will open franchise stores in 70 Stop & Shop supermarkets in southern New England starting this month. Dunkin’ Donuts will sell its usual assortment of doughnuts and pastries as well as coffee and other beverages, the company said, adding that it will sell its packaged coffee by the pound, the first time it has sold that product through a grocery market, Bloomberg News reported. Some observers speculate that the addition of Dunkin’ Donuts to its wares is Stop & Shop’s response to growing competition, especially from Wal-Mart, which has increased its food sales through its expanding number of markets through the area of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.