Newsstand - Krispy Kreme opens first foreign beach-head in world wide donut wars

Tuesday the 11th sees the opening of the first Krispy Kreme franchise outlet outside the USA, when "the hot delights" go on sale at 5:30 am at the Heartland Town Centre in Mississaugua, a sprawling edge city bordering on YYZ. Canada's current dominant donut chain, Tim Horton's -- named after a great NHL star from the 60s -- is prepared for the challenge. In early taste tests of promotional samples distributed outside Toronto's Union Station last summer, Krispy Kremes did not fare as well as expected, with a home town bias being clear in newspaper stories.

And in answer to those feeling I should have posted this in OMNI, I can only plead that a frequent flyer travels on his or her stomach, and among FTers there is a strong contingent of KK evangelists who believe these delicacies are an intricate part of their travels. Not only that, but KK has been the subject of numerous conversations at various FT gatherings from Montreal to Portland.

I rest my case...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Shareholder:
And in answer to those feeling I should have posted this in OMNI, I can only plead that a frequent flyer travels on his or her stomach, and among FTers there is a strong contingent of KK evangelists who believe these delicacies are an intricate part of their travels. Not only that, but KK has been the subject of numerous conversations at various FT gatherings from Montreal to Portland.</font>

Furthermore, at least one airport (CLT) has a KK in it!

Who wants to invest in a Krispy Kreme franchise in Wyckoff, NJ? I'll tip you in AAdvantage miles!

Oh great, another export from america that sabotages the health of foreigners. Wasn't tobacco enough? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif On the bright side, this could help some countries. If old people in Italy and Japan grew fond of Krispy Kreme, they would die far earlier, saving their retirement programs from bankruptcy.

FWIW, the stock is doing very well since Jan of this year!

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Regards,

Al

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by benoit:
Oh great, another export from america that sabotages the health of foreigners.</font>


oh c'mon, have you ever been to canada? there's a Tim Horton's on every corner to satisfy canadian donut needs! trust me, the canadians can already do enough damage as it is! donuts for breakfast, poutine for lunch, back bacon for dinner! that being said, i'll be spending new years in Toronto!

of course, now we'll hear the canadians whining about how "american corporate interests are destroying canada"....

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by duxfan:

oh c'mon, have you ever been to canada? there's a Tim Horton's on every corner to satisfy canadian donut needs! </font>

Depends on where you visit. There were no standalone Tim Hortons in the City of Vancouver until very recently.

That said, Canada apparently has the highest per capita donut consumption rate in the world. Not sure if that is anything to be proud of but it would explain why KK wants in.

I still like Dunkin Donuts but Allied-Domecq doesn't seem to be interested in expanding the brand's presence (never seen one in NV, CA, OR or WA though there are rumours of sightings).

terenz, There is a Dunkin Donuts in Glasgow near Central Station!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Larrude:
There is a Dunkin Donuts in Glasgow near Central Station!</font>

I thought it'd be Duncan Donuts over there? Interesting. The only one I knew that existed in the U.K. was in London on Oxford Street between Regent St. and Tottenham Court Road but it lost the DD sign.

The Toronto Union Station Taste Test was flawed becuase the glazed KK's were served cold.

Everyone that's experienced a glazed KK knows that unless said KK is hot they just don't compare.

My last KK was with 3 Canadian friends in lower Manhattan, at the store near the base of the World Trade Center. We were there there last April for a Leafs/Devils playoff game, and were sightseeing on the Sunday after the game. While marvelling at the Towers, one of my friends noticed that there was a KK nearby, and said "Isn't that the doughnut chain you've been yammering about?". 5 min later I had the pleasure of turning them on to a dozed hot glazed. First comment: "Why the hell did you get 12 of the same kind?" Second comment: "These are the best doughnts I've ever had in my entire life." a few minutes and 10,000 or so calories later, KK had won 3 more (Canadian) converts.

Having said that, I think cold KK's are pretty much just another doughnut. If the red sign is off, I keep drivin!



[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 12-07-2001).]

I'm amused that this Krispy Kreme post has drawn 10 replies and a post of the same vintage on airline cabin air quality has drawn none.

I have to confess that after 2 of them at CLT...i am falling in love! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

In FTers' opinion, what differentiates Krispy Kreme donuts from the rest?

But how is KK's coffee? Or do they only serve donuts? They've gotta go far to beat the Tim Horton's coffee up here, IMO.

bj-21.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 0524:
I'm amused that this Krispy Kreme post has drawn 10 replies and a post of the same vintage on airline cabin air quality has drawn none.</font>

KK's are more healthy than cabin air.

[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 12-09-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 0524:
In FTers' opinion, what differentiates Krispy Kreme donuts from the rest?</font>

Hard to describe. Imagine eating sweet, deep fried air.

Despite being pretty small, they seem to absorb about 10 times their weight in water, once in your stomache. So, if you eat more than about 3 or 4, you regret it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[

[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 12-09-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by blackjack-21:
But how is KK's coffee? Or do they only serve donuts? They've gotta go far to beat the Tim Horton's coffee up here, IMO.

bj-21.</font>

They serve coffee, but unlike TH's, no other food except doughnuts. The hot glazed are their specialty, they also serve about 15 other kinds of doughnuts.

I think their "choclate icing filled" are pretty good too. Like a chocolate topped jelly doughnut filled with vanilla icing (like the icing on a cake).

If don't stop talking about KK's, I'm going to need some extra insulin. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 12-09-2001).]

To afangs's point, their stock is up 40% since I bought in May 2000 - wish I could say that about my other stocks.

To the issue of taste, there are Krispy Kremes and there are Krispy Kremes. The company sells many donoughts at gas station -convenience store outlets. Those are not the doughnuts skofarell is referring to. You need to go to a real Krispy Kreme store and buy the "original glazed" AS THEY ARE COMING OFF THE CONVEYOR BELT (in other words, hot!). They literally melt in your mouth - you have to experience it to believe it!

It is my belief that they could run Dunkin' Doughnuts out of business one day...