Dunkin’ Donuts

BILL TAKES A TRIP TO "DUNKIN' DONUTS UNIVERSITY"

April 25, 1998

BILL COSTA: A cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. I really think we take it for granted. We go every morning, we get a cup of coffee, but we never stop to wonder about the behind the scenes. For instance, did you realize there are over 5000 Dunkin' Donuts around the world and they all have one thing in common: anyone who wants to manage or own a Dunkin' Donuts has to come here to Braintree, Massachusetts and Dunkin' Donuts University. Is it a tough course? Is it hard to pass? I don't know, I'm here on campus, I'm gonna check it out.

I was greeted by Product Training Manager David Del Vicario, the "Yoda" of Donut making.

DAVID: "To start you off I'd like to give you what you'll need to be a student here. And that's a uniform and all your cutting equipment."

BILL: "So these are my school supplies?"

DAVID: "Those are your supplies for the next four week. Good luck, Bill."

BILL: "I guess I should change then."

I entered Dunkin' Donuts University like an "Old Fashioned". But I was going to leave a Honey-Dipped, Chocolate-Covered, Cream-Filled expert. My uniform seemed to be in accordance with company standards, and I was ready for my first day of classes.

DAVID: "Before we begin going downstairs and making Donuts we're going to watch a video on the steps of making cake-type donuts."

BILL: I took copious notes throughout the video. And I was finally ready to head downstairs, where I could see my fellow classmates in action.

At first I just watched and learned. But then it was finally my time to make the donuts. First I covered the table with flour. Then Dave showed me how to make sure there was no air in the dough. Next I started to roll the dough to just the right thickness. And at last, it was time to cut the dough, the toughest lesson of the day. I tried... and tried... and tried, but I just couldn't seem to get it right. Finally I got one to stick, and I was a master at fitting the ring around my finger.

By the end of the day I was exhausted, but class was not over yet. Now I had the learn the specifics about every one of the fifty-two varieties of Donuts. And my fellow classmate wasn't much help, so I had to ask a few questions of my own.

BILL: "David, how many munchkins are there to a donut."

DAVID: "Good question, Bill. There are 4.2 munchkins that equal the weight of one donut."

BILL: Four weeks later, and I wasn't doing much better...

"We could have a problem here. I was supposed to have the shelves filled with donuts and bagels by the end of the day. But as you can see from the empty shelves, it's not going well."

But Dave knew just how hard I had worked, and my dream was about to come true.

DAVID: "I have some good news for the four weeks you have been here. Your hard, diligent work has really paid off. You have your diploma.

BILL: "Look ma... a degree!"

I was a Dunkin' Donut maker, and I had the degree to prove it.

"Welcome to Dunkin' Donuts, what can I get you?"