The company maintained momentum in its third quarter, reporting its 14th consecutive quarter of positive system-wide same-shop sales and ninth consecutive quarter of customer visit growth.
The fast-growing drive-thru coffee chain, which opened 48 new shops during the quarter for a total of 1,273 outposts, is on track to open roughly 180 locations this year. It plans to accelerate its expansion in 2027, opening 250 shops, mostly in existing states and primarily company operated.
“With record site approvals, growing inbound conversion interest and increasing real estate availability, we continue to build momentum,” CEO and President Christine Barone said on the earnings call. “We’re now focused on translating that momentum into an accelerated pace of openings. We now have full visibility into the real estate pipeline to reach 2,029 shops in 2029.”
On the earnings call, Barone cited third-party research from Technomics showing that Dutch Bros outperforms the coffee industry average across every measured aspect of the guest experience, “while earning the highest rating for friendly service and the competitive set”.
Product innovation remains key to Dutch Bros strategy. The company is preparing a refreshed Matcha platform for 2027 and also testing additional hot food offerings, Barone told analysts. It’s also piloting delivery services with DoorDash in several markets to evaluate its impact on customer accessibility and incremental sales.
