Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue IV, 2011 | Page 38

DOMINA
TORS
the Batista family. “They’re strong business people who helped build a strong
Dunkin’ franchisee base,” he says.
When Branca, whose father taught
him the value of both entrepreneurship and being an employee, decided to
join the Batista family operation, they
began to grow more aggressively and
also became a real estate development
company. “I knew going in that I had my
father-in-law, my wife, and her sisters
as resources, and I’ve learned so much
from the Dunkin’ franchisees who were
my former clients,” he says.
Branca attributes the success of the
family to the way in which they’ve
leaned on each other. “There are huge
resources among these franchisees. We
have our own independent franchisee
association with strong educational
components and other assistance.
Profitability for us with this concept
has been good. If you do it properly,
it works,” he says.
Branca, who jokes he is Italian by

birth and “intensity,” went into business with the largely Portuguese family
with his eyes wide open. “When people
ask me about working with family, I say,
‘Know what to expect before you do it.’
I’d also remind that regardless of the
business, you’re going to be with these
people forever. Keeping that in perspective is most important so you don’t let
business disagreements overwhelm the
bigger picture.”
Since Dunkin’ Donuts is largely built
out in New England, except for airports
and college kiosks, Branca is looking at
opportunities to expand west of the Mississippi. He’s also developing an original
concept “based on European tradition”
that he’ll grow through franchising.
“With our family resources in-house, we
pretty much have everybody we need to
do that now except a CPA,” he says, as
he departs for the annual family vacation in the Azores. “There’ll probably
be 200 DD shops represented on the
flight over.”

PERSONAL
Key accomplishments: Father, husband, business owner.

Conference held last April at the Venetian.

Biggest mistake: Not leaving a full-time legal practice sooner and following
my father-in-law and his family members into Dunkin’ Donuts franchising.

What are you reading? Imperium b