The bakery brand announced Wednesday that it had signed a three-unit franchise deal with Koelache Co. LLC, led by Houston entrepreneurs Don and Kat Koetting, along with Don’s parents. The family is aiming to open the first location in the first quarter of 2027, with plans to open the remaining stores by 2029.
“The Ohio market is a new frontier for our 90-year-old brand, and the Koetting family is the right team to introduce our fresh, handmade-daily donuts and kolaches to the Buckeye State,” said Flynn Dekker, CEO of Shipley Do-nuts. “They are exactly the kind of franchise partner we want, with a genuine connection to our products, strong financial acumen and experience with franchise systems.”
Shipley, which was founded in Houston in 1936, has grown to more than 390 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 13 states. The Ohio expansion marks Shipley’s first entry into the state and continues its broader push into Midwestern markets.
The brand previously identified Ohio as a target market when it announced franchise expansion opportunities across Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio in 2023, as Chron previously reported. At the time, the company said it was seeking locations in cities including Cincinnati, Kansas City, St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The Cincinnati expansion carries a personal connection for the Koettings, whose family has ties to the Midwest.
“Shipley’s donuts and kolaches are unlike anything in the Cincinnati market, and we believe Ohio will quickly fall in love with the brand,” said Don Koetting. “Bringing Shipley to a region my family called home for generations is deeply personal, and we look forward to introducing the brand’s fresh-made favorites to the Ohio River Valley.”
Aside from its Ohio expansion, Shipley is on track to build the brand with even more locations.
Following what the company described as a record-breaking 2025, Shipley opened four new locations during the first quarter of 2026, according to an April news release. The company said it expected to open an additional 25 shops throughout the remainder of the year in both new and existing markets.