MIAMI — Although it only operates 7,306 stores in the United States right now, Dunkin’ Brands Inc. plans to eventually operate more than 15,000 Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in the United States, Nigel Travis, chief executive officer of Dunkin’ Donuts, Inc., told participants at the ICR XChange Conference held Jan. 16 in Miami. Earlier in the day, Dunkin’ Donuts announced it is entering Southern California. The company is recruiting franchisees for Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura and Orange counties and expects these markets will begin to open in 2015. “Everybody talks about us going west,” Mr. Travis said. “The real opportunity I think is to build out that emerging sector where we think we can build east of the Mississippi another 3,000 stores. We then get to the West, where the opportunity, including California, is 5,000 stores. So that all adds up over the long term to 15,000 Dunkin’ Donuts in the U.S.”