Dutch Bros was one of the top-performing public QSRs in the second quarter, with an 8.3% increase in same-store sales. Out of the fast food brands Restaurant Dive tracks, only Cava and Burger King beat that metric at 9% and 8.5%, respectively.
The coffee chain’s sunny quarterly result is just one in a winning streak of quarters since the company went public in 2021. The drive-thru coffee chain posted its 13th-consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth and its eighth-consecutive quarter of same-store transaction growth, CEO Christine Barone said in an earnings release.
The 1,200-unit chain has expanded at a fast clip, with 185 units expected to open this year, and it continues to see success with its food menu expansion, which is driving attachments and persuading guests to incorporate Dutch Bros into their morning routine.
Dutch Bros is also thriving by creating a high-quality, consistent consumer experience no matter where guests go.
“You’ll get that same Dutch experience everywhere you go and I do think that is the primary differentiator that allows us to continue to be successful for as long as we have been,” CFO Josh Guenser said.
Restaurant Dive recently spoke with Guenser about the chain’s strategy. These four numbers stood out as key building blocks of the chain’s growth strategy.
575
The number of operator candidates Dutch Bros has available to oversee newly opened stores.
Dutch Bros has built a pipeline of leadership operator candidates who have an average tenure of eight years at the chain. These employees are typically ready to step in and lead new stores as they open.
“All of our operators today have started as Bro-istas and worked their way up through the system,” Guenser said. “I think it’s really a function of this being a fantastic place to work.”
The company ensures its stands are staffed appropriately and employees have the tools they need to provide the best experience to customers, he added.
48
The number of new shops Dutch Bros opened during the second quarter
Dutch Bros has refined its site selection process, and the chain is growing into contiguous markets. It leverages data and insights to give management better confidence to identify sites by predicting performance compared to past openings, Guenser said.
Dutch Bros also sends out teams into the new markets to help with opening and training new staff to ensure the newly opened locations provide a great customer experience from day one, he said.
Part of that strategy is also to reach a significant level of density within markets.
“We are really looking to create that daily routine,” Guenser said. “What we want to do is create shops that are closer, more convenient for you to be able to access so we can become a part of that daily routine.”
In Chicago, for example, a shop opened recently that is annualizing to $7 million in sales. That shop has had customers coming long distances and then getting stuck with long lines and wait times, and Dutch Bros would rather open new shops nearby to transfer people away and into more convenient locations that are closer to work or home.
“We certainly have pent up demand as we think about continuing to expand,” Guenser said. “So I do think Dutch Bros is well known, and I think there's an opportunity to continue driving brand awareness.”
65
The number of stores it plans to buy from bankrupt Salad and Go
Second-generation conversions also have been a part of the chain’s growth strategy, particularly at sites that already have a drive-thru format and similarly sized boxes relative to its ground-up developments. Earlier this month, Dutch Bros proposed to buy 65 Salad and Go locations from the bankrupt chain across Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma and convert them into Dutch Bros.
Earlier this year, the chain bought 20-unit Clutch Coffee, allowing it to quickly grow through conversions in North and South Carolina.
“They're great real estate, so we're excited to be able to take on those sites,” Guenser said. “I'd say the same idea for the Salad and Go sites that we're potentially getting a hold of here [is] that they're great real estate. It's the right size box for us, so it provides an opportunity to accelerate the pipeline.”
Guenser added that these buyouts depend on the market, site-specific dynamics and if the location has a great drive-thru.
73%
The percentage of transactions made by loyalty guests
Since initially testing mobile ordering in 2024, Dutch Bros’ digital business has skyrocketed. In Q2 2026, mobile orders made up 16% of its volume, Geunser said.
“That really is a reflection of the channel the guests want to order through,” he said.
Dutch Bros stores already have walk-up windows as part of their shops, as well as a drive-thru window, making it ideally set up for mobile order pick ups. Guests tend to use walk-up windows for mobile orders, he said.
Mobile ordering is also playing off the back of its loyalty program, which has allowed the chain to better communicate with customers.
“We certainly do see that as a strong part of our business,” Guenser said. A majority of transactions actually come from the brand’s rewards members, according to its most recent earnings call.
