It began with a delicious idea

In 1936, Lawrence Shipley wanted to create a gourmet donut so tasty that it would withstand the test of time.Cut by hand and served hot throughout the day, Shipley Do-Nuts were five cents a dozen and only available wholesale. But within four short years, they proved so popular that Lawrence began offering them to the public. As the business grew, life became much busier for Lawrence and his family. His wife, Lillian, would fill orders at home, baking from her humble kitchen with their infant son, Lawrence Jr., balanced on her knee while Lawrence Sr. was away on his sales route. Lawrence Jr. carried on his father’s vision and worked in the family business his entire life. Under his leadership the menu was expanded, and Shipley went beyond its original Texas location to include more than 190 stores across six states. Today, Shipley Do-Nuts is a fast-growing QSR franchise brand with over 360 locations and counting. And we still make our delicious donuts fresh every day, just like Lawrence Shipley envisioned.

Values that do goodAt the heart of every Shipley Do-Nuts bakery are the core values that have made us a beloved brand for over four generations. Our people, our process, and our products define us, and we strive to provide an experience found nowhere else on earth.

Service

Hospitality

Integrity

Passion

Leadership

Energy

Yummy

“I would definitely invest in Shipley all over again if I had to go back. I would just do it sooner than later.”

Aman DhukaMulti-Unit Franchise Owner

Meet the team behind our success

Flynn DekkerChief Executive Officer

Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Flynn Dekker joined the company in 2023 to spearhead the iconic, Houston-born brand's national expansion, bringing 30-plus years of executive leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industry and a strong track record of executing significant growth. Dekker previously served as CEO of Bonchon, a global franchisor of Korean chicken restaurants withmore than 420 locations spanning nine countries. He also held chief marketer roles at Wingstop Restaurants, where he led all strategic advertising, franchisee communication, branding, media and marketing efforts, and at Rave Restaurant Group and Fogo de Chao. In addition to expanding Shipley's 87-year-old brand's footprint and store count, Dekker will also focus on driving same store sales growth and investing in franchisee success with product innovation, equipment and technology upgrades and customer service enhancements.

Bill LeibengoodChief Marketing Officer

Bill brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in restaurant operations, marketing, and brand management. Most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for Houlihan's Restaurant, Inc. He has also held senior roles with Wingstop & Applebee's International, where he led innovative marketing strategies that delivered record-breaking results. Bill is passionate about building strong teams, elevating brands, and driving operational excellence across all facets of the business.

Jim FisherSVP of Supply Chain

Jim was named senior vice president of supply chain in February 2022, bringing more than 20 years of food manufacturing and food service experience to the company. His previous roles include senior director of global strategic sourcing at Krispy Kreme and senior manager of sourcing at Pillsbury/General Mills.

Kerry LeoVP of Technology

Kerry, who joined Shipley Do-Nuts in June of 2021 to head up the technological transformation of the brand, has more than two decades of technology and operational leadership experience. He was previously the Senior Director of IT at Church's Texas Chicken®, Industry Manager for Food Service at Radiant Systems POS, and held top IT positions with Focus Brands and Chick-fil-A.

Jonathan MasseyVP of Franchise Recruitment

Jonathan is a seasoned franchise development leader, known for propelling growth. As the former Director of Franchise Development at Wingstop, he spearheaded the company's record-breaking pipeline of development agreements. With over a decade of experience across development, operations, and marketing roles at Pizza Hut, Krispy Kreme, and Burger King, Jonathan consistently delivers impactful results.

Ben BassSenior Director of Real Estate

Ben joined Shipley Do-Nuts in 2023 with a track record of helping companies identify and align business, financial, and operational objectives with real estate requirements. Those companies have included Sweetgreen, Planet Fitness, Cotton Patch Café, and Walmart. He leads our real estate team and supports our franchisees in their expansion efforts.

Jason HighersDirector of Franchise Recruitment

Jason brings with him over 30 years of hands-on experience in the franchising industry. His professional journey began on his 15th birthday with a job at McDonald's, and since then, he has built an impressive career holding leadership roles at well-known brands such as Wendy's, Bahama Breeze, Burger King, and Marco's Pizza. Most recently, Jason contributed his expertise in Franchise Sales and Operations at OpenWorks, a leading facilities management franchising company. With his deep industry knowledge and proven track record, Jason is a fantastic addition to our team.

It began with a delicious idea

“I would definitely invest in Shipley all over again if I had to go back. I would just do it sooner than later.”

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