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HOUSTON, USA – Shipley Donuts, the nation’s largest brand of fresh, handmade daily donuts and kolaches, is the top-ranked donut franchise on the newly released 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500®, coming in at No. 134 and marking its fifth year at No. 1 in the Baked Goods: Doughnut category.
With more than 385 company-owned and franchised locations across 13 states throughout the Southern United States, Houston-based Shipley Donuts serves fresh, hot glazed donuts, kolaches and coffee in Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia.
Shipley’s signature plain glazed donut, cut into its iconic hexagon shape and carefully glazed to perfection, remains the brand’s No. 1 seller. The brand offers more than 40 varieties of fresh, handmade donuts, including glazed, iced and cake donuts, plus fritters, bear claws, donut holes, twists and rolls. Shipley also specializes in kolaches, Texas-favorite savory breakfast pastries with meat and cheese fillings baked inside.
“Earning the top spot in the donut category for the fifth consecutive year is a testament to a brand that has stood the test of time,” said Flynn Dekker, CEO of Shipley Donuts. “This ranking reflects our commitment to Shipley’s rich history of serving up fresh-made daily donuts and kolaches while building a modern, scalable franchise system that is primed for growth in 2026.”
In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the 47-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve. Each franchise is thoroughly evaluated and given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength and financial strength and stability.
“For 47 years, the Franchise 500 has been the gold standard for identifying franchise excellence. This year’s ranking proves that the best brands don’t just survive changing markets; they thrive in them,” said Entrepreneur Editor in Chief Jason Feifer. “These 500 companies represent some of the most reliable pathways to business ownership in America, each one vetted through our rigorous analysis of what actually drives franchisee success.”
The brand is currently experiencing robust growth, having opened a record 35 new shops in 2025, including locations in two new states, North Carolina and Virginia, plus shops in Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
