Shipley Donuts Pushes Into Ohio With Three-Unit Deal

Shipley Donuts signed a three-unit agreement with Koelache Co. LLC and will enter Ohio for the first time. The Houston chain now runs more than 390 franchised and company stores across 13 states. The deal moves a Southern brand into a market it has never operated.

Why the operator profile matters

Don and Kat Koetting come from banking and food-and-beverage legal work, not restaurant ownership. That background signals a capital-disciplined approach over fast unit counts, with the first store set for early 2027 and the other two by 2029. For franchisors recruiting in new regions, finance-literate operators reduce the risk of stalled builds.

A measured pace in a crowded category

Three units over roughly three years is deliberate, not aggressive. Doughnuts and coffee face heavy competition from national chains and convenience stores, so a slow Ohio ramp lets Shipley test demand before committing more capital. Multi-unit operators should read the pace as a brand prioritizing site quality over speed.

What the broader pipeline shows

Shipley told investors in its first-quarter update it plans to open 25 shops by year-end and keeps recruiting across the South, Southeast and Midwest. The Ohio entry fits a pattern of filling white space next to its base rather than leaping coast to coast. That geographic discipline keeps supply chains and field support manageable as the system grows.