At Dunkin’, we take menu innovation seriously and know that the best ideas can start anywhere. Sometimes, it begins with a creative team member, a cinnamon roll, and a social post.
Dunkin’ Saudi Arabia (KSA) crew member Rowayda ‘Riri’ Alghurair recently took to her social channels to share her favorite way to enjoy a Dunkin’ cinnamon roll: freshly toasted, sliced open, and layered with velvety cream cheese.
The post went viral, topping 1M+ views almost overnight. Brand fans liked, commented, and shared, but most importantly, they began flocking to their local Dunkin’ and asking for a ‘Riri Roll’.
Recognizing the cultural moment and the emotional connection this idea carried with consumers, Shahia Food Limited, the Dunkin’ KSA franchisee, moved with clarity and speed. Led by a marketing team that understood exactly what this trend meant to Saudi consumers, and powered by a fully aligned cross-functional effort across Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Technology, and Finance, Shahia turned a viral social moment into a national menu item in just two days.
The ‘Riri Roll’ launched across Saudi Arabia, where consumers rushed to social media to share their own tasting experiences. The momentum did not stop at national borders. In fact, the ‘Riri Roll’ went so viral that regional markets, from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, quickly rolled it out in their restaurants, seeing a similar response from guests clamoring to try the creation they first discovered online.
Dunkin’, Inspire, and our franchisees share the common belief that the best ideas can emerge from anywhere in an organization when the guest is top of mind. By tapping into local trends and her authentic passion for the brand, Riri created a new menu item that truly resonated with guests, and Shahia embraced that great idea to quickly bring it to scale. And in recognition of Riri’s leadership and innovative thinking, Shahia recently promoted her, continuing to grow great talent within their organization.
The ‘Riri Roll’ is just one example of Inspire and our iconic brands show up in culturally relevant ways around the world. Whether its Iced Chocolate from Dunkin’ Indonesia or unique flavors emerging in the annual International Barista Competition, we’re tapping into local preferences and team member ideas as we continue to accelerate global growth.
