"Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?"
Posted on 10/14/2009 8:48:23 AM PDT by ETL
Krispy Kreme had been a popular doughnut chain in the South since 1937, but remained unknown to the rest of us until about 1996. That's when the first Krispy Kreme popped up in New York City, on West 23rd Street. ..."
Krispy Kreme stock hit a high of about $49 in 2003. Then it started on a long downward spiral, losing about 90% of its value.
This company had problems that had nothing to do with its doughnut recipe.
It over-expanded and took on crushing debt. There were allegations of management misconduct. Some franchises went bankrupt. Competition was fierce in the cheap eats category. More people started consuming healthy foods.
In short, Krispy Kreme managed to lose money selling something that is both cheap and delicious.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
How magnanimous.
After the KK’s hit town, we LOVED them, to excess maybe.
But they changed something in their ingredients (I think) and they tasted differently. I asked about what had changed, and they gave me a non-commital answer but admited the KK’s were now ZERO transfat; hence the good-tasting (IMHO) transfats were removed and with them the taste for which they originally became known. Too bad. Just another example of food police.
I totally agree. That was my experience too.
Krispy Kreme is the closest thing to heavenly food there is on Earth (ok next to BBQ).
They are all Yeasty and good.
If you didn’t like KK, then:
You bought it from a Yankee who doesn’t know how to cook,
or,
You are a Yankee who thinks that Ketchup is spicy and that a doughnut is a round cake with a grain of sugar on it.
Try the Chocolate covered Custard Filled...They are the best.
The Boss doesn’t let me have them often, so, when she does, that is what I go for.
Is there a bigger PIG than Paula Deen??
Doughnuts are anything but cheap anymore. For that matter, anything made with flour has been going up, up, up in price.
Donuts as a destination might work in heady asset-bubble times, but not in any normal world.
Stop the thread, we have a winner!
LOL
Scott Livengood’s father and my father were friends. I’ve heard this story from the other perspective. They just needed a fall guy. Like many manias, certain parties convinced themselves that expand, expand, expand was the only way to go, go, go. No thought to product quality, brand dilution or ultimately even shareholder equity.
It’s still a fine, old local company that makes a unique product. As Livengood tried to point out and was repeatedly shot down, overexposure of a unique product makes that product not so unique, and after all, it’s still a doughnut; how many doughnuts are people going to buy, really?
I’m still a sucker for that bright red neon “Hot Now” sign, though. Fresh, while the thin glaze is still smooth and sort of matte looking, there’s nothing quite like them. They’ve been a part of my life for all my life, and my parents and grandparents, too. I recall an old photo of the original store, in historic Old Salem, with late 30’s Ford panel vans lined up and painted up in KK livery. It was a proud, happy scene, especially for the depression, where such scenes were not common. It was a good product, made by good people, honestly. Too bad that got dragged through the mud.
Sounds good but hot glazed or lemon filled so fresh they burn your fingers and tongue.
Gotta agree. They're the best I've ever had.
But then I've never met a donut that I didn't like. Sure, I've liked some more than others but there are no bad donuts, just misunderstood ones.
"Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?"
Screw 'em, they are pure hype IMO. If they do fail I won't miss them and their lousy sticky glaze. Can't take a bite of one without getting the goo all over my face, and the donut inside that ickyness has no flavor whatsoever.
Indeed, they are the worst donuts I ever had.
A Krispy Kreme opened up in my home town of Dedham, MA a few years ago.
It lasted about a year and has heen closed down empty ever since.
Take your day old, 2 day old glazed donuts, slip them in the toaster oven.
Broil until the glaze bubbles and browns.
Serve w/ fork.
I used to like KK but DD rules now.
Yep, They made the mistake of believing their own hype.
So long as people had to drive 30 miles to a store, they would pick up several dozen fresh and hot and take them back to the office or shop.
Fresh, hot KKs are not that bad.
Then some ignorant genius sez, well heck, they are so loved, lets sell em in every gas n get and truck stop in America.
Cold KKs available everywhere killed the brand off instantly.
That’s not a very nice picture to post to a pregnant woman that is stuck in the house. There is always tomorrow, though!
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