Dive Brief:
- Dutch Bros has acquired Clutch Coffee, a 20-unit drive-thru coffee chain in the Carolinas, Clutch Coffee CEO and Co-Founder Darren Spicer wrote in a post on the company’s website. Terms and conditions of the deal were not disclosed.
- Clutch’s last day in operations is Friday, and all locations will be closed for a brief period as they are renovated and converted to Dutch Bros stores.
- This deal marks Dutch Bros’ first acquisition and opens up a new growth avenue for the coffee chain, which reached 1,081 locations as of Sept. 30, 2025. During the third quarter, the chain opened 38 shops, the majority of which were company-owned.
Dive Insight:
In 2025, Clutch Coffee was opening new locations and growing, but that strategy clearly shifted. Clutch “reached a natural point where exiting to Dutch Bros could accelerate its mission without compromising its values,” according to an FAQ posted on Clutch’s website.
“Dutch Bros’ people-first approach, operational expertise, and long-term vision create an opportunity for team members and customers to thrive, while preserving the culture and community focus that fueled our success from the start,” Clutch said.
Clutch offered a similar experience to Dutch Bros, which emphasizes human touchpoints. Clutch’s model included playing upbeat music in outdoor speakers and baristas taking orders carside and collecting payments. At Dutch Bros, its staff “create a high-energy welcoming environment that turns a stop at the drive-thru into a memorable moment,” Dutch Bros CEO and President Christine Barone said during the November earnings call.
Dutch’s acquisition will help accelerate its unit count growth in 2026, with the chain originally expected to open 175 units this year, according to the November earnings call. Clutch’s footprint would push that number closer to 200. The chain is working toward its goal of operating 2,029 shops by 2029.
Dutch has seen significant success across the Midwest and Southeast as it expands with “long lines and strong customer demand,” Barone said. New units had strong productivity, and average unit volumes across its system continued to grow past $2 million, per an earnings release.
The coffee chain also had some of the strongest comps across the restaurant industry last year, with same-store sales up 5.7% across its system. Transactions were also up 4.7%.
