Krispy Kreme is an international chain of doughnut stores that was founded by Paul & Vernon Rudolph in 1936 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The original store was first listed in January 1937 as Krispy-Kreme Doughnut Shop (Paul H. Rudolph) 5024 Charlotte Avenue, Polk's Nashville (Davidson County, Tenn.) City Directory Vol. 1937 LXV, R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers, Copyright, 1937, by R. L. Polk & Co. Vernon Rudolph moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and opened a Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop in July of 1937. While selling assorted types of doughnuts, Krispy Kreme's signature item is a glazed doughnut that is traditionally served warm.
Products are sold in Krispy Kreme stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, Wal-Mart and Target stores in the United States. Internationally, Loblaws supermarkets and Petro-Canada gas stations in Canada along with BP Service Stations and BP Travel Centres and Seven Eleven in Australia carry Krispy Kreme. In the United Kingdom Tesco supermarkets, Tesco Extra and most service stations carry Krispy Kreme products. The company's growth was steady prior to its initial public offering but profits have decreased in recent quarters. However, new branches have opened in downtown Philadelphia and other locations.
Read more about Krispy Kreme: History