Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. is an American global doughnut company and coffeehouse chain based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Krispy Kreme founder Vernon Rudolph bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, and began selling to local grocery stores. Products are sold in Krispy Kreme stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, Walmart, Target and Shaw's stores in the United States. Internationally, doughnuts are sold in Loblaws supermarkets, Petro-Canada gas stations, and as freestanding stores in Canada, along with BP Service Stations and Travel Centres and 7-Eleven stores in Australia. In the United Kingdom, Tesco supermarkets, Tesco Extra, and most Tesco service stations carry Krispy Kreme products. Service stations Moto, Welcome Break & Road Chef also carry self-service cabinets. The company's growth was steady prior to its initial public offering but profits have decreased in recent quarters. On February 24, 2015, Krispy Kreme opened its 1,000th shop in Kansas City, Kansas. The first customer received one dozen free donuts every week for a year.