Dunkin hit by mystery donut shortage across US… see if your store is affected

Those who use Dunkin may not have been able to buy any of the brand’s iconic donuts this week after a mysterious ‘manufacturing error’ left shelves empty.

Dunkin’ stores in Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island, Nebraska, and areas near Albuquerque, New Mexico, ran out of donuts Thursday and Friday.

Signs on store doors and drive-thru kiosks informed customers that the pastries were unavailable “due to a manufacturing defect.”

At least one store in Albuquerque attributed the breakfast item’s mysterious disappearance to a “nationwide recall of all donuts,” according to The Albuquerque Journal.

However, sweet treats were still available at several locations in other regions, including St. Joseph, Missouri and Boston — where Dunkin’ has an almost cult-like following — according to AP.

Some affected locations offered “Munchkins,” or donut holes, instead of donuts on Friday.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Dunkin’ for comment.

In response to the lack of the pastries, several Dunkin’ enthusiasts were angry and curious as to why the shelves were empty.

Signs on store doors and drive-thru kiosks informed customers that the pastries were unavailable “due to a manufacturing defect.” At least one Albuquerque store attributed the breakfast item’s mysterious disappearance to a “nationwide recall of all donuts”

‘What? No donuts!’ exclaimed Tyler Raikar of Ohama as she arrived at her Dunkin store early Friday after working a night shift as a phlebotomist.

Raikar was looking for coffee and a chocolate cake donut but was left disappointed that she didn’t get her little morning treat.

“That’s tragic,” she told AP. “Hopefully they’ll have them soon.”

Albuquerque police jokingly told the Journal they almost canceled the chief’s monthly meeting because of the shortage.

“Fortunately, we were able to prevent a tragedy when Roma Bakery came by with breakfast burritos,” APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos told the Journal.

Some workers in the Albuquerque area attributed it to a supply chain problem, while others simply said vans had arrived without the delicious cargo.

Employees said they hoped supplies would be replenished next week.

Jack D’Amato, a spokesman for Inspire Brands — Dunkin’s parent company — said there was an issue with donuts from a single supplier that affected stores in Nebraska and some other states.

About four percent of Dunkin’s U.S. stores were affected by the problem.

Bryce Bares, owner of several Dunkin franchises in Nebraska, said some Dunkin’ stores received products from suppliers that did not meet standards and he would not serve them to customers. Employees said they hoped supplies would be replenished next week

D’Amato said the company is still investigating what the problem was and exactly how many stores were affected. But he said the company has already started restocking some affected stores.

Bryce Bares, owner of several Dunkin franchises in Nebraska, told us The Omaha World Herald that some Dunkin’ stores were receiving products from suppliers that did not meet standards and that he would not serve them to customers.

He told the newspaper that delivery partners had resolved the issue and that his Nebraska locations should soon offer donuts again.