Dunkin' Donuts is planning a massive expansion in the Republic, opening 30 outlets and employing up to 500 people over the next 18 months.

The franchise will be operated by brothers, Mr Gary and Mr Neil White, who currently run the franchise in Northern Ireland. The first full store is expected to open in Dublin in October.

Mr Gary White said the new stores will offer the full range of Dunkin' Donuts including speciality coffee, hand-made doughnuts, sandwiches and Baskin Roberts ice cream.

Mr White acquired the master licence for the Republic from Allied Domecq Retailing International. The brothers already operate 16 outlets in Northern Ireland, employing 150 people. They first secured that franchise in 1997.

The White brothers previously ran petrol stations in Northern Ireland, before selling their interests to buy the franchise. The new outlets will be based mainly in large towns and cities, with smaller sites to be established at petrol stations and shopping centres over the next couple of years.

The franchise in the Republic was previously held by the tea company Lyons Irish Holdings. In 1997 it decided not to renew the five-year contract and it has remained closed since. Dunkin' Donuts is a multi-million dollar global business with more than 4,200 stores in 43 countries worldwide. It sells four million doughnuts daily.