Krispy Kreme is a doughnut and coffee chain that currently has over 1,000 locations around the world. It is known for its unique range of doughnuts and coffees. The chain has a rich history: the first store opened in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and has expanded to over 26 countries ever since.

Krispy Kreme’s doughnuts are a treat and a staple in many households. The company is most famous for its Original Glazed, Filled Glaze and Chocolate Glaze doughnuts, although they have a variety of seasonal, holiday and limited time products as well.

History

Krispy Kreme was founded on July 13, 1937 by Vernon Rudolph. Rudolph’s uncle owned a grocery store that sold doughnuts which had inspired him to try his luck on his own. Although his business initially only catered to grocery stores, he began selling hot doughnuts to passersby during the production time between midnight and 4 a.m.

Throughout the 1940s and 50s, the chain gradually developed all of the distinguishing features that we still know it by – its familiar red and green bowtie logo, the glass display case and the well-known Original Glaze doughnut. By the early 1970s, Krispy Kreme had become a well-established southeastern chain with about 60 locations.

After Vernon passed away in 1973, the chain became a subsidiary of Beatrice Foods. The 1990s were a period of rapid expansion for the company, when stores began operating throughout the entire country. However, the company headquarters remained in Winston-Salem.

Finally, the 2000s were marked by significant international expansion. In 2001, the first store opened outside of the US – in Toronto, Canada. A decade later, in 2012, the chain celebrated its rapid international expansion by opening its 500th international store in Aguascalientes, Mexico. In this period, the company had also introduced its signature range of coffees, as well as a phone app — the Hot Light App — which allows customers to find out when the doughnuts at their local shop are the freshest.

Review

The Original Glazed doughnut is a customer favourite not only because of its taste but also because of its price. For about $1 a piece (or $8 a dozen), this doughnut is a very affordable snack. Other doughnut varieties are slightly more expensive, with specialty ones such as the heart-shaped or limited time offer doughnuts going up to about $1.30 a piece, or $11.50 a dozen.

The Krispy Kreme coffee blends are an affordable drink option – for under $2, customers can choose between a number of coffee blends. The espresso-based coffees are slightly more expensive, going up to $4 for a large caramel, hazelnut or vanilla hazelnut, or a mocha. In general, the variety of coffees is pretty substantial and caters to many tastes and offering an ever-changing selection in addition to its standard one.

Krispy Kreme locations can get pretty busy, especially when the famous “hot doughnuts now” light is flashing and signalling that a batch of fresh doughnuts has just come out. As a result, customers sometimes tend to experience slow service and long waits. Also, depending on the location, customers sometimes complain about cleanliness.

In addition to its in-store sales, some chains also offer drive-thru service. However, some customers complain drive-thru wait times can get pretty long, especially during peak hours. Nevertheless, customers are generally satisfied with the experience at their local KK chain, reporting that the doughnuts are almost always sold fresh and hot.