Back to projects Duck Donuts Duck Donuts 6230 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg When someone mentions Duck Donuts, you may immediately think of this yummy treat on the shores of the Outer Banks. But did you know that Duck Donuts is headquartered here in Cumberland Valley? Here’s the story of how a Mechanicsburg family combined their love of the beach and their love of donuts to create a thriving business. Like many Central Pennsylvania residents, Russ DiGilio and his family traveled to the Outer Banks to enjoy summer vacations at the beach. However, they realized this beautiful seaside location was missing somewhere to purchase what they refer to as “the sweet staple of happiness” – a warm, fresh donut. So, on a whim, they started to develop fun donut recipes. After months of research, they opened their first two Duck Donuts stores – one in Kitty Hawk and one in Duck, North Carolina – in 2007. Their warm, delicious, made-to-order donuts and a great selection of coffees quickly became a popular destination for visitors and locals. The delightfully fresh donuts are customized with a coating, topping, or drizzle of your choice, which means everyone can enjoy their favorite flavor combos. In addition, for those in a hurry, the menu offers pre-selected seasonal options such as peach and streusel during the summer months and pumpkin flavors in the fall. Customers can also order year-round fan favorites, such as the yummy Maple Bacon donut. Duck Donuts’ success led to the opening of its first franchise location in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2013. Today, there are more than 100 Duck Donuts franchise locations in 22 states across the country, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, with the largest concentration of franchises in North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In addition to offering a unique product, the company prides itself on providing a welcoming and family-friendly in-store experience at all its locations. Duck Donuts’ corporate headquarters and flagship shop are in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. New franchise owners travel here for 5 to 7 days of training and are often seen behind the counter at the Mechanicsburg store, which is the only corporate-owned location. Quack Gives Back Throughout its growth, the owners of Duck Donuts have remained focused on offering every customer a “fun, family-friendly, and scrumptious” experience thanks, in large part, to dedicated and committed team members. Each location is part of the community they serve, and the Quack Gives Back program promotes partnering with community groups to raise awareness and funds for organizations that support the local community. For example, in 2022, the Mechanicsburg location invited Speranza Animal Rescue to be on-site for National Donut Day (Friday, June 3), with a portion of the proceeds donated to this important non-profit animal rescue and rehabilitation facility. In addition, since 2017, Duck Donuts has sponsored Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program, which ensures that children undergoing cancer treatment have access to their own Chemo Duck, a stuffed yellow duck dressed in blue hospital scrubs with a chemotherapy port, used as a medical play therapy tool and to provide huggable hope. Thanks to franchise owners, team members, and customers, Duck Donuts has raised more than $260,000 to support this annual campaign. To learn more about Duck Donuts, including information about locations and franchising opportunities, visit DuckDonuts.com.
