Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is the name of a popular doughnut chain that originated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The founder, Vernon Rudolph, purchased a secret recipe (although company mythology tells a story whereby Rudolph won the recipe from a New Orleans baker in a west Kentucky poker game) for yeast-raised doughnuts and began selling them to local grocery stores in Winston-Salem in 1937. Because of customer demand, he began selling them directly from his bakery to customers. From 1976 to 1982 Krispy Kreme was owned by Beatrice Foods, but was then purchased back by a group of store owners. In April 2000, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange using the symbol KKD.
By the 1960s it was well known throughout the south-eastern United States, and began to expand across the entire country. It spread quickly across the United States in the 1990s and began to open international stores. It is famous for its very light doughnuts covered in glaze and served warm. Each store has a neon sign to indicate when fresh hot doughnuts are available.
Though the chain features several varieties of donuts, it is most famous for its traditional glazed donut. Many grocery stores and convenience stores also carry Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Although growth of the chain has been steady since the company went public, expansion and profits have decreased since the low-carb fad diets gained popularity.
External link
- Official web site (http://www.krispykreme.com/)