CANTON, MASS. — Starbucks and McDonald’s are about to have competition in the cold blended beverage platform with the announcement that Canton-based Dunkin’ Donuts will roll out new blenders at its restaurants throughout the United States. The blenders are part of a new beverage platform for Dunkin’ Donuts that will include smoothies made with fruit and yogurt, Coolatta Lites and Frozen Dunkaccino.
Select Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the Northeast will introduce the new blended beverages beginning this month, and the products gradually will roll out nationwide at participating restaurants throughout the year.
The new beverages include:
• Fruit Smoothies: Dunkin’ Donuts will offer two varieties of freshly prepared Fruit Smoothies: strawberry banana and tropical mango. Both smoothies will have 260 calories or less for a 16-oz serving.
• Coolatta Lite: A lighter version of Dunkin’ Donuts’ frozen Coolatta beverages, the new Coolatta Lite varieties are lower calorie versions, ranging from 33% to 80% fewer calories. Varieties include coffee, caramel coffee, French vanilla coffee, hazelnut coffee, Minute Maid orange, strawberry and vanilla bean.
• Frozen Dunkaccino: A frozen version of Dunkin’ Donuts’ hot Dunkaccino, the new Frozen Dunkaccino is “an indulgent beverage with a unique blend of mocha and coffee flavors,” the company said.
“As we continue our brand’s steady and strategic expansion, we’ve had great success expanding our coffee and bakery platforms with innovative additions such as dark roast coffee, steak, croissant donuts and more,” said John Costello, president of global marketing and innovation at Dunkin’ Brands. “With our new blenders, we see great opportunity to reinforce our beverage leadership and attract new customers in the years to come with innovative beverage choices, including smoothies made with real fruit and yogurt, lighter versions of our popular Coolatta frozen beverages and Frozen Dunkaccino.”
Starbucks has offered fruit smoothies since 2008 and recently began offering smoothies made with Greek yogurt. McDonald’s, meanwhile, has offered fruit smoothies since 2010.
