Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s are teaming up for an exciting nationwide expansion, and to celebrate, they’re offering a free doughnut promotion. This collaboration is part of Krispy Kreme’s strategy to significantly increase access to its doughnuts across the US, beginning with a phased rollout that includes McDonald’s restaurants.
Expanding Krispy Kreme access across the US
Krispy Kreme has set ambitious goals for its partnership with McDonald’s. By the end of 2024, the doughnut chain expects its products to be available at over 1,000 McDonald’s locations across the country, with a long-term target of 12,000 restaurants by 2026. This marks a major shift in Krispy Kreme’s business model, which increasingly focuses on delivering fresh doughnuts daily to restaurants, grocery stores, and other retailers through its “Delivered Fresh Daily” system.
The first phase of this partnership will kick off in Chicago on October 15, 2024, with McDonald’s restaurants in the area being the first to sell Krispy Kreme’s famous doughnuts. This rollout follows a successful pilot program conducted at 160 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky, where the consumer response exceeded expectations.
Doughnuts available at McDonald’s
Customers will have the opportunity to enjoy three of Krispy Kreme’s most popular doughnuts at participating McDonald’s locations:
- Original Glazed Doughnut: Krispy Kreme’s signature doughnut, known for its melt-in-your-mouth texture and sweet glaze.
- Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnut: A twist on the classic, featuring chocolate icing and rainbow sprinkles.
- Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled Doughnut: A filled doughnut with Krispy Kreme’s signature Kreme and chocolate icing.
These doughnuts will be delivered fresh daily to McDonald’s, but they will only be available while supplies last, so it’s recommended to arrive early if you want to snag one.
The free doughnut promotion: how to participate
To mark the beginning of this partnership, Krispy Kreme is offering a special promotion where customers can receive a free Original Glazed doughnut. The promotion runs from October 10 to October 14, 2024. To qualify, simply present a McDonald’s paper or digital receipt dated between October 10 and 14 at any participating Krispy Kreme shop in the U.S. The offer is limited to one doughnut per customer.
Why the partnership matters
This collaboration represents a significant step for both brands. For McDonald’s, adding Krispy Kreme to its menu introduces a new sweet treat to its already popular breakfast and snack options. It also supports McDonald’s strategic focus on menu innovation, as highlighted by Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, who expressed excitement about the potential for this partnership to enhance the customer experience.
For Krispy Kreme, the partnership is part of its larger strategy to move beyond traditional retail stores and increase access to its doughnuts through partnerships with major chains. This effort, which also includes agreements with Walmart, Kroger, and Target, is designed to meet consumer demand for greater accessibility to Krispy Kreme’s fresh products.
Participating locations and availability
The first restaurants to participate in this partnership are in Chicago, where Krispy Kreme already operates three production hubs to deliver fresh doughnuts daily. These hubs will support the delivery of doughnuts to McDonald’s locations in the area and eventually scale up for national distribution
