A new franchise agreement calls for five new shops.
By Andrew Carlo
Shipley Do-Nuts, one of the nation’s largest donut and kolaches brands, announced that it will expand its presence in Louisiana.
A new franchise agreement signed by BC Restaurant Holding LLC calls for five shops to be built in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. The move marks Shipley’s debut in the market.
The plan is led by area residents Steve Watkins and Walter Bigby with the first location opening in late 2026 followed by four new shops over the next three years. Watkins and Bigby currently operate five Zaxby’s and two Jersey Mike’s locations in the Shreveport-Bossier market, with an additional Jersey Mike’s in development.
“This agreement to bring Shipley into northwest Louisiana represents another example of Shipley’s focus on strategic expansion in the brand’s record growth trajectory,” said Keith Sizemore, senior vice president of franchise development at Shipley Do-Nuts. “Steve and Walter’s deep market knowledge and proven operational excellence make them ideal partners to introduce our handcrafted donuts and kolaches to this vibrant market.”
According to Shipley, Watkins brings over 45 years of food industry experience and served as president of the Louisiana Restaurant Association in 1994.
“We were specifically looking for an iconic, growing donut franchise, and Shipley’s average unit volume growth, particularly with new store openings, really impressed us,” said Watkins. “The brand’s leadership is focused on smart, strategic growth, which aligns perfectly with our business philosophy.”
Founded in Houston, Texas in 1936, Shipley offers more than 60 varieties of fresh donuts, handmade daily, including its signature plain glazed, cut in the iconic Shipley hexagon shape. This year, the brand is on pace to open more than 40 new stores. This nearly doubles Shipley’s growth in 2024.
Earlier in 2025 Shipley opened its first North Carolina and Virginia locations, with upcoming market entries planned for South Florida, New Mexico and Missouri. Shipley currently has seven locations operating in central and southern Louisiana.
Overall, the brand has more than 200 locations in development and said it is “actively seeking franchisees for key markets” across the South, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Shipley’s combined size includes more than 375 company-owned and franchised restaurants across 14 states.
For more information about franchise opportunities at Shipley Do-Nuts, visit http://www.ownashipleydonuts.com.
