Mister Donut (ミスタードーナツ Misutā Dōnatsu?) is a fast food franchise founded in the United States in 1956, now headquartered in Japan, where it has more than 1,300 stores. The primary offerings include donuts, coffee, muffins and pastries. After being acquired by Allied Lyons in 1990, most North American stores became Dunkin' Donuts. Mister Donut also maintains a presence in Taiwan, South Korea, China, Philippines, Thailand, and El Salvador.

Corporate history

A honey-glazed churro from a Japanese Mister Donut shop.

North America
Harry Winokur worked with William Rosenberg in Dunkin' Donuts. After Winokur broke his partnership with Rosenberg, he went on to create Mister Donut with his son-in-law David Slater in 1956, with stores in most of North America.

The Mister Donut business became so popular that Winouker and Slater decided to go into franchising. As a result, Mister Donut began a rapid expansion that resulted in the opening of 275 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

In 1970, Minneapolis-based International Multifoods Corporation, one of the world's largest and most successful food companies, acquired Mister Donut and its franchising concept from Winouker.

It was the largest competitor to Dunkin' Donuts, which was founded in 1950, before being acquired by Dunkin' Donuts' then-parent company, Allied-Lyons, in February 1990.

After the acquisition of Mister Donut by Allied-Lyons, all Mister Donut stores in North America were offered the chance to change their name to Dunkin' Donuts. The acquisition handled by David Slater resulted in the change of all Mister Donut stores to Dunkin' Donuts franchises.