Fans of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and McDonald’s McCafe will soon have a chance to get both products in a single breakfast stop.
The doughnut chain and fast food giant revealed plans on Tuesday to begin offering Krispy Kreme doughnuts at McDonald’s locations across the Untied States later this year.
“The Golden Arches and Krispy Kreme, one of the most beloved sweet treat brands in the world, are teaming up for a national expansion,” the companies said in a joint press release. “Fans will begin spotting Krispy Kreme doughnuts in their local McDonald’s restaurants later this year as part of a phased market rollout later across the country.”
McDonald’s did not say how many of its 13,500 U.S. locations—95 percent of which are franchised—would participate in the deal.
Krispy Kreme President and CEO Josh Charlesworth said the partnership would give customers “unprecedented daily access” to the North Carolina-based company’s sweet treats.
“Significantly, by making Kreme Krispy accessible to fans nationwide through this partnership, we expect to more than double our points of access by the end of 2026,” Mr. Charlesworth said, adding that the deal “accelerates the development of our existing Delivered Fresh Daily channel, creating operating leverage through distribution density and production utilization.”
Three varieties of Krispy Kreme doughnuts—original glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles, and a filled chocolate iced—will be delivered fresh each day to participating McDonald’s.
“They’ll be available individually or in boxes of six, starting at breakfast” until daily supplies last, according to the release.
The partnership was tested across 160 McDonald’s restaurants in Kentucky, where “customer excitement and demand exceeded expectations.”
Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer for McDonald’s USA, said the deal marked a chance to “unlock new business opportunities” in the chain’s breakfast category and sweet items it sells throughout the day.
“Since the launch of breakfast nearly 50 years ago, we’ve continued to offer new menu items, flavors, and experiences that have made McDonald’s an irreplaceable part of fans’ morning routines,” said Mr. Hassan. “This partnership is an exciting next step in that journey and a chance to unlock new business opportunities in the breakfast category and throughout the day. Our fans’ love for Krispy Kreme runs deep, and we can’t wait to make it even easier for them to satisfy their sweet tooth at McDonald’s restaurants across the country.”
Bringing major restaurant chains and popular food brands together is not a novel idea.
For example, Taco Bell has long boasted Doritos-flavored tacos, and Wendy’s brought a Cinnabon “pull-apart” treat to its menu last month.
Krispy Kreme has a history of teaming up with other big businesses. The company sells its doughnuts in Walmart, Kroger, and other grocery chains, along with its own stores.
It operates in 35 countries with more than 14,000 “fresh points of access” through its own shops, retail partnerships, and e-commerce business.
The announcement of the McDonald’s deal sent shares soaring nearly 30 percent by late Tuesday morning. McDonald’s stock was up about 0.08 percent.
A spokesperson for Krispy Kreme said the company would not disclose financial details of the deal, which is exclusive to the United States through 2026. McDonald’s did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
