Shipley Do-Nuts has signed a three-unit franchise agreement in Cincinnati, Ohio — the brand's first foothold in the Buckeye State. The deal signals continued geographic momentum for the Houston-based chain, which bills itself as the nation's largest brand of fresh, handmade-daily donuts, kolaches, and coffee.
The franchisee is Koelache Co. LLC, a group led by Houston-based entrepreneurs Don and Kat Koetting alongside Don's parents, Fred and Lisa Koetting. The family plans to open its first Cincinnati location in Q1 2027, with the remaining two units expected to follow through 2029.
For multi-unit operators watching the QSR and fast-casual breakfast segments, the move underscores how legacy donut brands are finding traction outside their traditional regional strongholds. Shipley, founded in Texas, has historically concentrated its presence in the South and Southeast, making Ohio a meaningful northward step in its franchise growth strategy.
The Koelache Co. name itself nods to the kolache — a Czech-inspired filled pastry that has become a signature differentiator for Shipley alongside its donuts and coffee. That product mix positions the brand in the growing daypart competition for morning traffic, an area restaurant operators are investing in heavily as breakfast and early-morning visits continue to outperform other dayparts in foot traffic recovery.
As established regional donut and bakery-café concepts push into new markets, franchisee selection and local market fit are proving critical success factors — a dynamic well-documented in beverage and café industry analysis of similar expansion plays. The Koettings' Houston roots give them direct familiarity with the Shipley brand before transplanting it to a new Midwestern market.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
