Krispy Kreme, Inc. (previously Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.) is an American doughnut company and coffeehouse chain.

Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph, who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in 1937 in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and began selling to local grocery stores. Steady growth preceded an ambitious expansion as a public company in the period 2000 to 2016, which ultimately proved unprofitable. In 2016, the company returned to private ownership under JAB Holding Company, a private Luxembourg-based firm. In July 2021, Krispy Kreme became publicly traded again on the Nasdaq.

Although based on informal advertising such as word-of-mouth, in 2006, Krispy Kreme moved into television and radio advertisements, beginning with its “Share the Love” campaign with heart-shaped doughnuts.

On February 19, 2007, Krispy Kreme began selling the Whole Wheat Glazed doughnut in an attempt to appeal to the health-conscious. The doughnut has 84 kJ (20 kilocalories in most countries, or 20 Calories in the US) fewer than the original glazed (754 kJ vs. 837 kJ) and contains more fibre (2 grams vs. 0.5 grams). As of January 2008, the trans fat content of all Krispy Kreme doughnuts was reduced to 0.5 of a gram or less. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in its guidelines, allows companies to round down to 0 g in its nutrition facts label even if the food contains as much as 0.5 of a gram per serving. Krispy Kreme benefited from this regulatory rule in its subsequent advertising campaign, touting its doughnuts as “trans-fat-free” and having “0 grams trans fat!”.

On July 1, 2010, Krispy Kreme introduced a doughnut that included the soft drink Cheerwine, which was to be sold in grocery stores in North and South Carolina during July. The doughnuts proved so popular that the Salisbury, North Carolina, Krispy Kreme location (the town where Cheerwine is made) sold them as well. After July 31, this was the only place to get them. The Cheerwine Kreme doughnut returned in July 2011 and made its debut in Tennessee and Roanoke, Virginia.

Also in 2010, Krispy Kreme Express, a delivery service for businesses, began testing at the Battleground Avenue location in Greensboro, North Carolina.

In 2014, Krispy Kreme released a $1,685 doughnut as part of fundraising efforts for The Children’s Trust. It was covered with 24-k gold and was decorated with edible diamonds. The inside was made from Dom Pérignon champagne jelly.

In the early 2010s, the company began developing shops with tunnel ovens, which allow for an all-day “Hot Now” hot doughnut experience. On February 24, 2015, Krispy Kreme opened its 1,000th shop, in Kansas City, Kansas.

On May 25, 2017, Krispy Kreme doughnut-flavoured Jelly Belly jelly beans were announced.

In 2018, Krispy Kreme acquired bakery chain Insomnia Cookies, which continues to operate independently.

On August 5, 2019, Krispy Kreme released two new Reese’s-branded “chocolate lovers” and “peanut butter lovers” doughnuts to the public.

In summer 2019, Krispy Kreme announced its return to both downtown Chicago in The Loop and Times Square in New York City with plans to open the locations by end of the year.

In July 2020, Krispy Kreme launched several candy-coated doughnuts with Nerds, Jelly Belly jelly beans, sour gummies, and marshmallows.

On August 25, 2020, the first Krispy Kreme vending machine was launched in North Carolina, featuring 3-packs of doughnuts available 24 hours a day.

Krispy Kreme introduced a seasonal Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Collection in September 2020 with four flavours: 1) Pumpkin Spice Original Glazed Doughnut, 2) Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut, 3) Pumpkin Spice Original Filled Cheesecake Doughnut, and 4) Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Roll Doughnut.

In March 2021, Krispy Kreme announced that they were providing a free Original Glazed doughnut every day (except Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day) for the rest of that year to customers in the US who could prove they have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Multiple physicians criticized this move, with former Baltimore health commissioner Leana Wen tweeting that a person who ate a doughnut every day without making other lifestyle changes could gain 15 pounds by the end of the year. Others criticised the physician-critics. Elyse Resch, a nutrition therapist, wrote: “It’s oppression. Weight stigma, fat-shaming, fatphobia – it’s oppressive, like every other oppression in the world. And it’s so wrong. We all deserve to have satisfaction in our eating, and having a doughnut is a delicious thing.” Krispy Kreme, in response, said, “Like many sweet treats, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are an occasional indulgence best enjoyed in moderation. And we know that’s how most of our guests enjoy our doughnuts. We’re certainly not asking people to get a free Original Glazed doughnut every day, we’re just making it available through the end of the year, especially given that not every group is eligible to get vaccinated yet.”

In May 2021, Krispy Kreme confidentially filed for an initial public offering to once again go public. The company went public again on the Nasdaq on July 1, 2021, under the name Krispy Kreme Inc