n this photo illustration, a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut is shown on May 12, 2022 in Daly City, California. Krispy Kreme reported strong first quarter earnings with net income of $4 million compared with a loss of $3.06 million one year ago. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Starting March 21, McDonald's will expand its partnership with Krispy Kreme to approximately 160 locations across Louisville, Lexington, and the surrounding area.
The initiative was first launched in October at nine locations in Kentucky.
This expanded market test is designed to test customer demand for the popular sweet treats, which now includes three varieties: Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed Doughnut, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnut, and the Raspberry Filled Doughnut.
"McDonald’s is always looking for ways to give our fans more of what they crave, and we often conduct tests to inform future menu decisions," the company said in a press release. "This small-scale test will help us understand how offering new bakery items like Krispy Kreme could impact operations in our restaurants."
McDonald's has so far benefited from customers trading down due to inflation. The company recently beat Wall Street estimates for its quarterly earnings and revenue, in large part because it was able to raise prices without scaring off customers.
Krispy Kreme, likewise, has reported strong earnings on the back of price hikes. It is also increasingly relying on distribution partnerships to reach customers such as through Walgreens, Acme, and ShopRite.
If the partnership with McDonald's continues to grow, it could become a major source of revenue for the growing doughnut business.
Chris Versace, CIO at Tematica Research, joins to discuss earnings season trends, Flash PMI signals, Walmart’s strategy updates, and Nike’s evolving outlook.
Andrew Nusca, Editorial Director at Fortune, dives into WhatsApp’s first-ever ads rollout —and how Meta’s ad push intensifies its showdown with OpenAI.
Ben Geman, Energy Reporter at Axios, joins to discuss the latest Middle East tensions, Brent crude price swings, and why gas prices aren’t falling with oil.
Al Root, Associate Editor at Barron's, joins to discuss Tesla’s robotaxis going live in Texas—what it means for autonomy, safety, and the EV race ahead.
Dena Jalbert, M&A expert and CEO of Align Business Advisory Services, on the state of U.S. M&A: deals worth $1–$10 billion (including debt) are surging.
Jeremy Jansen, Head of Supply Chain at Wells Fargo, unpacks the ongoing trade talks between the United States and China as consumers still wonder about tariffs.
