Drive-through coffee chain Scooter’s Coffee has entered a multi-store development agreement with Boddie-Noell Enterprises to add 31 new locations in the southeastern US.

The deal will see Boddie-Noell, which is also the nation’s largest Hardee’s franchise owner, build and operate the Scooter’s Coffee sites in North Carolina and Virginia.

North Carolina currently has 14 Scooter’s Coffee stores, all locally owned and operated. The new agreement will bring some of the first outlets for the brand to Virginia.

Boddie-Noell Enterprises executive vice-president Mike Hancock said: “We are excited to partner with Scooter’s Coffee and bring this exceptional brand to North Carolina and Virginia.

“Scooter’s has created a compelling model centred around quality, speed, and a differentiated experience. We see a significant opportunity to grow the brand in these markets and look forward to building a strong presence in the communities we already serve.”

Scooter’s Coffee views the collaboration as a “meaningful step” to advance its broader expansion agenda.

Scooter’s Coffee chief growth officer Tim Arpin said: “Boddie-Noell Enterprises is exactly the type of partner we look for as we continue to scale Scooter’s Coffee across the country.

“Their disciplined approach to operations, commitment to team culture, and proven ability to grow multi-unit brands make them an ideal partner to introduce and expand Scooter’s Coffee in these markets.”

Scooter’s Coffee was established in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska. The chain now has 900 locations in 32 US states.