## Overview Krispy Kreme is an iconic American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain, renowned worldwide for its signature Original Glazed doughnut and its “Hot Doughnuts Now” experience[6][8]. The company’s mission is to deliver joy through high-quality, innovative doughnuts, leveraging both traditional craftsmanship and modern technology to maintain consistency and freshness[8]. ## History Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 13, 1937[3][5]. Rudolph’s journey began when he acquired a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe and the rights to the Krispy Kreme name from a New Orleans chef[2][6]. Initially selling to local grocery stores, demand from passersby led Rudolph to open a retail window—literally cutting a hole in the building’s wall—to sell doughnuts directly to customers[4][5]. This marked the birth of the brand’s retail tradition and cult following. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Krispy Kreme standardized its operations by centralizing mix production and developing proprietary doughnut-making equipment, ensuring product consistency as the chain expanded across the Southeast[2][5]. By the late 1950s, there were 29 shops in 12 states[1]. After Rudolph’s death in 1973, the company changed hands several times, including a period under Beatrice Foods (1976–1982) and a leveraged buyout by franchisees in 1982[1][2]. Krispy Kreme went public in 2000, expanded aggressively, but faced financial challenges in the mid-2000s, leading to a return to private ownership in 2016 under JAB Holding Company[6]. The company went public again in 2021, reflecting renewed investor confidence[6]. ## Key Achievements - **Product Innovation:** Krispy Kreme’s Original Gl