This Best-Selling Coffee Chain Wiped The Floor With Dunkin' By $17B

Given the widespread popularity of Starbucks, it shouldn't come as any surprise that most of the country does not, in fact, run on Dunkin'. While coffee experts aren't so hot on Starbucks, the general population is swarming locations across the United States and worldwide, according to the company's 2025 sales (via QSR). It pulled in $30.25 billion from customers buying staggering numbers of pumpkin spice lattes and popular Starbucks pastries. Dunkin', the chain's primary competition in the States, only managed to bring in a paltry $13.1 billion in sales for that year.

Okay, so $13.1 billion isn't exactly "paltry." Still, a $17 billion difference in sales is striking. C-suite executives at Dunkin' can't be happy to see that disparity, even if the chain remains on solid financial ground. Especially considering that Inspire Brands, Dunkin's parent company, is attempting to boost the company's valuation to $20 billion as it considers making it a publicly traded entity once again.

A business's valuation is based on a number of factors, including revenues, but matching Starbucks' impressive sales numbers is going to be a tall order. Besides exceptional brand recognition, the best-selling coffee chain enjoys an enormous global footprint. To compete with the caffeine commando, Dunkin' is going to have to expand significantly, though it seems to be well aware of that fact.

Dunkin' is by no means a small coffee chain. It has over 14,000 stores and operates in around 40 global markets. That sounds impressive until Starbucks' worldwide footprint enters the conversation. It has more than 40,000 locations in 89 global markets — nearly three times the presence Dunkin' has. It has over 16,000 stores in the United States alone. Every state in the U.S. has a Starbucks lurking around somewhere, whereas there are still seven states folks still can't run on Dunkin' in. The sheer volume of stores alone contributes to Starbucks' financial success.

Starbucks may have flooded the market with its presence, but an argument could be made that if Dunkin' were to simply sell more coffee in the stores it does have, it might be able to stack up to the competition. Yet, Starbucks is walloping the Massachusetts-based chain in that department too. The Green Mermaid's average sales per store were $1.8 million in 2025, overshadowing Dunkin's $1.4 million per unit (via QSR).

Still, Dunkin' isn't throwing in the towel and crowning Starbucks the baron of brew just yet. The chain is continuing to expand, adding over 200 more locations in 2025. By contrast, Starbucks is actually shrinking its footprint, closing around 500 stores that same year. Inspire Brands has also entered into a partnership with Walmart's delivery service so customers can have piping hot Dunkin' beverages delivered to their door. A $17 billion divergence won't be easy to overcome, but Dunkin' is making every effort to one day be the go-to location for a cup of joe.