One of the fastest growing donut franchises in the country is Duck Donuts, with 78 franchise locations and more than 145 additional contracts in 25 states and two countries. The franchise is being recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, as it recently made the rankings of Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500.

The Franchise 500 is the world’s most comprehensive and competitive franchise ranking, and placement in the Franchise 500 is a highly sought-after distinction with more than 1,000 applications for it this year. This year, the Franchise 500 ranks Duck Donuts as #247 among franchises, as well as #1 in the category of Baked Goods: Doughnuts.

“We are honored to be included in Entrepreneur magazine’s 40th Annual Franchise 500 list as this recognition demonstrates the strength of our expanding brand since we began franchising in 2013,” says Russ DiGilio, founder and CEO of Duck Donuts Franchising Company. “Our team is dedicated to continue seeking innovative ways to engage our customers and support our franchisees as we strive towards our vision of serving an edible ring of happiness around the globe.”

Among the key factors in evaluation of the rankings include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.

Duck Donuts has plans for 24 store openings in 2019, and it recently celebrated the opening of its first international location in Santiago, Chile.