Krispy Kreme Doughnuts history

Since 1937, Krispy Kreme has been active in community fundraising.

The company established its national headquarters in Winston-Salem in 1941.

Krispy Kreme initiated an expansion program in 1946 that included producing the mix at a central plant in Winston-Salem to ensure consistency.

In 1962 the company began to use air pressure to form almost perfectly symmetrical doughnuts.

After the company was reorganized, Beatrice Foods Company purchased the firm in 1976.

Nevertheless, the company grew to 116 stores by 1980.

In 1982, a small group of our early franchisees bought Krispy Kreme back from Beatrice Foods.

After grooming his son, Mac, for the CEO position, Joseph McAleer, Sr., retired in 1988.

Before the company placed a new emphasis on retail sales in 1989, they had accounted for only a quarter of sales.

In 1995 the company tested a cobranding concept with Kroger grocery stores, whereby the doughnuts would be shipped fresh daily and placed in the bakery section, rather than the bread shelves.

In 1996 Krispy Kreme introduced its proprietary blend, titled "America's Cup of Coffee." One and a half years of extensive research (assisted by 1,200 customers) preceded the introduction. "Americans are drinking more coffee and becoming more knowledgeable about coffee," explained Jack McAleer.

Livengood was named president and CEO in 1998 and then became chairman as well the following year.

By 1999, Krispy Kreme had expanded nation-wide with stores from New York City to California.

Revenues reached $220.2 million for the fiscal year ending in January 2000, a 40 percent increase over the figure from two years earlier.