Original glazed doughnuts will soon no longer be dessert options alongside Oreo McFlurrys and Hot Fudge Sundaes.
McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme both announced the end of their partnership on Tuesday, June 24.
Earlier this year, the fast food giant began offering three types of Krispy Kreme treats at around 2,400 McDonald’s locations, including Original Glazed Doughnuts, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnuts and Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled Doughnuts. Unfortunately, the offerings failed to be successful and will soon discontinue, according to the companies.
“Our two companies partnered very closely, each supporting execution, marketing, and training, delivering a great consumer experience,” Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth said in a joint news release. “Ultimately, efforts to bring our costs in line with unit demand were unsuccessful, making the partnership unsustainable for us.”
Now parting ways, Krispy Kreme plans to prioritize expanding availability of its doughnuts while McDonald’s focuses on building the success of its breakfast business.
When did Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s start their partnership?
Fast food enthusiasts became aware of the companies’ short lived partnership in late 2023 with a phased test roll out of doughnuts began at 160 McDonald’s restaurants in the Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky areas.
In October 2024, McDonald’s restaurants in the Chicago area began selling Original Glazed and other fresh doughnuts. That same month, Krispy Kreme locations began offering customers a free doughnut if they show they show a McDonald’s paper or digital receipt dated Oct. 10-14, 2024.
The two companies were initially gearing toward offering nationwide availability at participating restaurants by the end of 2026.
“Partnering with McDonald’s on a national scale will provide our fans and doughnut lovers unprecedented daily access to fresh doughnuts and the joy that is Krispy Kreme,” Charlesworth said in a March 2024 news release.
The test at 160 McDonald’s restaurants in Lexington and Louisville were “successful” as “consumer excitement and demand exceeded expectations.”
Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY
