In what year was Dunkin' Donuts founded?

Dunkin' Donuts was founded in 1950. Bill Rosenberg opened the first shop under the Dunkin' Donuts name in Quincy, Massachusetts, after operating an earlier doughnut-and-coffee restaurant called the Open Kettle.

The Open Kettle began in 1948, which is the source of a common date mix-up. Rosenberg changed the name to Dunkin' Donuts in late May 1950 after discussions with company executives. Because the question asks when Dunkin' Donuts was founded, rather than when Rosenberg opened his predecessor business, 1950 is the standard canonical answer.

Rosenberg’s idea grew from his experience supplying food and coffee to factories and construction sites. He noticed that coffee and doughnuts were especially popular, then built a shop around those two products. The business began franchising in 1955, helping it expand rapidly. The company later became known simply as Dunkin', although “Dunkin' Donuts” remains the familiar historical name.