Krispy Kreme delays McDonald’s growth

Krispy Kreme has decided to put a pause on its plans to expand its doughnut offerings at McDonald’s locations across the nation. The company made this decision following an announcement made during its first quarter earnings report for 2025. Originally, their plan was to have Krispy Kreme doughnuts available at McDonald’s nationwide by the end of 2026. This rollout was to follow a successful test run at 160 restaurants in Kentucky’s Lexington and Louisville. However, a reevaluation of the timeline and a focus on building a profitable business model for both companies has led to a delay in adding more McDonald’s locations for the second quarter of this year.

As of March 30, 2025, Krispy Kreme doughnuts could be found in over 2,400 McDonald’s restaurants. The company is currently working with McDonald’s to reevaluate the expansion schedule while aiming to establish a profitable business model for both parties. This reassessment has resulted in a temporary halt on launching in any additional restaurants during the second quarter of 2025.

The collaboration between Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s was initially announced in March 2024 to enhance the accessibility of Krispy Kreme’s doughnuts in areas where the company’s stores are not present. Customers were able to enjoy three Krispy Kreme donut flavors, including Original Glazed, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles, and Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled, as single items or in six-packs throughout the day, while supplies lasted.

Despite the current hold on expanding to more McDonald’s locations, Krispy Kreme remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of the partnership. The company still believes in the potential for profitable growth through nationwide expansion, including a presence at McDonald’s in the United States. The pause in expansion is viewed as a strategic move to ensure a sustainable and profitable business model for both Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s as they work towards achieving their shared objectives in the future.