Dunkin' vs. Krispy: The Donuting

runs-on-dunkin.gifDunkin' Donuts is gettin' serious. The Quincy-founded donut chain is infringing on southern-born Krispy Kreme's home territory, plotting a location in Krispy headquarters of Winston-Salem, NC. There are no Krispy Kremes in Massachusetts right now, so Dunkin is definitely throwing down the gauntlet and declaring donut war. Who will emerge victorious?

A quick comparison of the companies:

ChainSinceFoundedTypes of DonutsRevenueIn the Smithsonian?In Wal-Mart?Advertised as Trans Fat Free?Keffiyeh Controversy?
Dunkin Donuts1950Quincy, MA35$4.7 billionYesNoNo, butYes
Krispy Kreme1937Winston-Salem, NC27$510.21 millionOh yesYesYesNot that we know of


krispy-kreme-logo2.jpgHaving fled the south, this Bostonist must admit she prefers Dunkin's cake donuts to the too-sweet Krispy Kreme glazed (Krispy claims to have cake donuts, too, but we've never tried one). Still, there is something alluring about a donuts-only franchise that doesn't get distracted by bagels, muffins, pizza, and those weird flatbread sandwiches (have you ever ordered one?). Additionally, we kind of prefer the "doughnuts" spelling to the reductive "donuts," though we recognize the utility of shorthand. So will Krispy ever reach its sticky fingers back up north in retribution? Only time will tell.


Revenue figures from that trusted source, Wikipedia.

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Comments [rss]

  • Michael Femia

    I've given Dunkie's another try, and then promptly sworn them off, about once every six months for the last few years. I like to think I won't give them another another try.

  • fangfriends

    DD's can give up the ghost, for all I care. Their donuts suck, unlike a certain other franchise. In the South, everybody hates DD's because they don't let you put in your own damn cream and sugar. Only the DD's worshiping New Englanders put up with this totally weird practice.



    KRISPY FOREVAR!

  • ldacundo

    There are DD's in Walmart in CT...so it's only a matter of time.

  • Victoria Welch

    When I lived in DC, I was horrified to discover that there was only one DD's in the city. And yet I missed that little bit of home so much that I went out of the way to make sure I got a fix at least once a month.

  • Kerry Skemp

    dang, can i get a button to sync my brain with our archives? sheesh.

  • captnitpick

    According to news reports, Dunkin' was supposed to remove trans fats from its offerings by the end of 2007.

  • allie25

    ^^i'll second that. dd coffee is nasty.

  • Korri Leigh Crowley

    DD coffee is pretty nasty, and the bagels are really quite bad for you because they're so huge that eating one is equal to eating an entire loaf of bread. I read that somewhere.

  • HarmyG

    We just got a couple boxes of Dunkin Donuts here at work and the box says something to the effect of 0g trans fat.



    But the real issue is that Dunkin Donuts fundamentally changed in 2003 when they did away with their crullers and changed the recipe for their donuts. They are no longer a donut destination for me.

  • ichheissederek

    I went to school in Florida where Krispy Kreme reigns, but as a New Englander, I craved DDs. DDs is better. Plus, DD's biggest competition is Starbucks. Coffee is their biggest seller.

  • allie25

    even though i am a life-long bostonian.. i still think dunkin' donuts is mostly crap.



    those new hash browns are pretty good though.

  • JocelynCeleste

    They're both crap compared to Kanes!

  • p0larbare

    Funny and true story. I got married to a Massachusetts gal in Spencer. She sent her best friend to Medford from Spencer (about an hour) to get me 3 dozen as a wedding present. That totally rocked.

  • p0larbare

    Hailing from North Carolina -- Krispy Kreme owns Dunkies on the donut front. Sorry folks but hot Krispy Kremes should be their own food group.

  • Kerry Skemp

    yeah, should read "in Massachussetts as of now". sorry about that.

  • ccmmyykk

    "There are no Krispy Kremes in Massachusetts as of yet, so Dunkin is definitely throwing down the gauntlet and declaring donut war."



    That's because they came and went already.



    http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/07/23/the_rise_and_fall_of_krispy_kreme_in_new_england/



    I remember when that first store in Medford opened. The hype was absolutely insane. Now it's all gone.

  • allie25

    that flatbreads aren't that bad, especially the turkey/bacon/cheese one, if your starving and there is nothing else around..



    also, i remeber krispy kreme opening a few locations in mass a 1-3 years ago.. And it's my understanding that Dunkin's beat their asses cause every krispy kreme i see is out of business on the nort and south shores.



    personally, i can only have a krispy kreme once and a while because they are way.. WAY too sweet. but that one time a year.. damn are they good.

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