Scooter’s Coffee 2026 press release photo.
Scooter’s Coffee has signed one of the largest franchise development agreements in its history, with 31 locations planned across North Carolina and Virginia through a partnership with Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the nation’s largest Hardee’s franchise operator.
The Omaha, Nebraska-based chain announced the deal April 21. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Boddie-Noell, based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, operates more than 330 Hardee’s locations across four states. The Scooter’s deal represents a notable push into the Southeast for the drive-through-focused coffee chain, which currently has 14 locations in North Carolina, while the new stores would be among the first Scooter’s Coffee locations in Virginia.
“This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in Scooter’s Coffee’s growth strategy, aligning the brand with additional experienced, large-scale operators who know the market well and are committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences,” Scooter’s said in an announcement of the deal.
Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooter’s Coffee now operates more than 900 locations across 32 states, nearly all franchisee-owned.
The chain’s small-footprint drive-through model has fueled rapid growth, with 224 net new stores in a single 12-month period as of late 2023. To support continued expansion, the company opened a 183,000-square-foot distribution center in Whitestown, Indiana in 2024.
The Boddie-Noell agreement fits Scooter’s stated emphasis on partnering with experienced multi-unit operators as it continues expanding nationwide toward 1,000 locations.
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