Dutch Bros Announces Bold Plan To Open 7,000 Drive-Thrus

West Coast coffee chain Dutch Bros opened its 1,000th location last month, and is looking to have at least 2,029 stores by 2029. Long-term, the company sees 7,000 coffee drive-thrus nationwide in its future.

Initially, Dutch Bros announced it wanted to open 4,000 locations in the coming years. Now, however, Dutch Bros plans to ride its growth momentum and is upping the plans. The new higher goal of 7,000 locations was announced during an Investor Day meeting in Tempe, Arizona last week.

“Led by field operations teams deeply rooted in our culture and hungry to grow, and supported by a leadership team with complementary skills and first-hand knowledge of scale, we are well positioned to deliver sustainable, long-term value while staying true to our mission of making a massive difference, one cup at a time,” said Dutch Bros CEO Christine Barone.

Most Dutch Bros drive-thrus are located in the western U.S. Yet, the coffee retailer has been aggressively growing its presence in the South. At the end of 2024, there were 982 locations, with 160 more planned openings this year.

Dutch Bros Coffee Coming to Retailers

Through a partnership with Trilliant Food & Nutrition, Dutch Bros is launching a packaged coffee line that will be sold in retail stores. The team-up will help Dutch Bros reach consumers across the country. Trilliant, a leader in ready-to-drink coffee, already has products in over 50,000 stores in the U.S.

“We are excited about this opportunity, as it allows us to reach customers for even more of their beverage occasions,” noted Barone in a press release. “We believe this offering will build brand awareness, especially in newer markets by providing exposure to new potential customers.”

In fiscal year 2024, Dutch Bros made $1.3 billion in sales, a 33% uptick compared to the year before. Annual profit was $66.5 million, a substantial surge from 2023’s $10 million. Moving forward, Dutch Bros expects 20% annual revenue growth.

While Dutch Bros is a coffee chain, drip coffee is not on the menu. Dutch Bros is mostly known for the pick-me-up espresso and energy drinks, with many customers not even showing up until the afternoon and evening. Seeing potential missed opportunity, the company has plans to attract more morning business, taking on major rivals like Dunkin’ and Starbucks.

Starting in 1992 with a pushcart, Dutch Bros has grown into a company now worth about $10 billion. It’s the second-most valuable business in Oregon.