Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue IV, 2013 | Page 25

D OM I N A T O R S
By Debbie Selinsky

Go West, Young Man!
Dunkin’s young Western pioneer
learns to thrive in a tough economy

J

ason Duffy may be only 38 years
old, but he could write a book
about being successful in business during tough economic times.
After all, as he says, “That’s all I’ve known
as a franchisee, since I opened my first
Dunkin’ Donuts store in Phoenix on Aug.
15, 2008 during the worst economic times
in 50 or 60 years.”
Having survived his baptism by fire and
come out ahead, Duffy, recently named one
of the “40 Under 40” to watch by the Phoenix Business Journal, now has 51 Dunkin’
Donuts stores in four western states, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and California.
His path to franchising began with a
fateful meeting nearly 20 years ago with
Jon Luther, who would later become president, CEO, and chair of Dunkin’ Donuts.
A 19-year-old Duffy, who was working his
way through college, had started a guttercleaning business. At one of the doors he
knocked on, he met Luther, who hired him
and spoke with him about hustling and
paying his way through college.
Then Duffy had an accident, falling from
Name: Jason Duffy
Title: Managing Partner
Company: First Cup LLC
(Southwest Bakery Group,
Wholesale Service Exchange)
No. of units: 51 Dunkin’ Donuts
Age: 38
Family: Wife Erin and three

children, Olivia, Sam, and Miley
Years in franchising: 6
Years in current position: 6

a ladder and, in the process, damaging the
side of Luther’s house. “He had to fly out
the next morning, and I assured him that
I’d take care of everything,” Duffy recalls.
“He didn’t know me or what would happen, but he went on his trip, and when he
returned everything was done.”
Through the years, the two stayed in
touch as Duffy graduated with a finance
degree from West Virginia University
and Melbourne (Australia) Institute of
Technology. Luther became something

of a mentor to the ambitious young man
who had helped care for his blind mother
since childhood.
Later, in 2007, when Duffy was working in the finance industry, he “saw the
handwriting on the wall” and decided to
change professions. Cue Jon Luther. “I
reached out to him, and he said he had an
opportunity in Phoenix because Dunkin’
was looking to open stores out West. I accepted, and this was my first foray into
franchising.”

Multi-Unit Franchisee I s s u e IV, 2013



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