McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme have announced that they are testing new Krispy Kreme doughnuts at participating restaurants in Louisville, Ky. As a part of the collaboration, nine McDonald’s locations will offer Krispy Kreme’s ‘Original Glazed,’ ‘Chocolate Iced Sprinkles,’ and ‘Raspberry-Filled Doughnuts’ starting October 26, 2022. The menu offerings will be available all day in-stores and at the drive-thru while supplies last, and customers can also enjoy a six-pack or individual donuts. Krispy Kreme will deliver the doughnuts fresh daily to participating locations.
"McDonald’s is always looking for ways to give our fans more of what they crave, and we often conduct tests to inform future menu decisions. This small-scale test will help us understand how offering new bakery items like Krispy Kreme could impact operations in our restaurants," the companies said in the release.
Doughnut-Focused QSR Additions
McDonald’s Sells Krispy Kreme Donuts in Its Latest Menu Expansion
Trend Themes
1. Doughnut QSR Alliances - Expect more partnerships between quick-service restaurants and artisanal-style bakeries in order to expand menu offerings and test new products.
2. Gourmet Donut Popularity - As consumers continue to gravitate towards elevated dessert options, expect gourmet donuts with unique flavors and innovative toppings to gain popularity.
3. Fast Food Bakery Integration - Fast food chains will continue to integrate bakery-style products into their menus as they seek to provide customers with a more varied dining experience.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Food - Fast food chains can use partnerships with artisanal bakeries to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market.
2. Bakery - Bakeries can leverage partnerships with large fast food chains to expand their customer base and increase brand recognition.
3. Food Delivery - As fast food chains begin to offer more bakery-style products, delivery services may need to adapt their systems and processes to keep up with the increased demand for fresh-baked goods.