Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s announced a partnership that will bring Krispy Kreme products to McDonald’s locations across the United States. The phased rollout is set to begin later this year, with availability at participating restaurants nationwide expected by the end of 2026. Krispy Kreme President and CEO, Josh Charlesworth, stated that this partnership will give customers unprecedented access to the company’s glazed, filled, and frosted treats, more than doubling their points of access by the end of 2026.
Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer for McDonald’s USA, mentioned that the deal with Krispy Kreme presents new business opportunities in McDonald’s breakfast category and sweet items that are sold throughout the day. McDonald’s plans to offer three Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties – original glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles, and a filled chocolate iced – available individually and in boxes of six until daily supplies last.
This partnership is just one of many collaborations between major restaurant chains and popular food brands. For example, Taco Bell has Doritos-flavored tacos, while Wendy’s recently added a Cinnabon treat to its menu. Krispy Kreme has previously partnered with other businesses, including Walmart, Kroger, and other grocery chains, in addition to their own stores. The company operates in 35 countries with over 14,000 points of access through its own shops, retail partnerships, and e-commerce business.
Following the announcement of the McDonald’s partnership, shares of Krispy Kreme surged nearly 30% by late morning on Tuesday. McDonald’s stock also saw a slight increase of about 0.08%. While financial details of the deal were not disclosed by Krispy Kreme, the partnership is exclusive to the U.S. through 2026. McDonald’s did not provide further comments on the partnership when requested by the Associated Press.
Overall, the collaboration between Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s marks a significant opportunity for both companies to expand their offerings to customers across the United States. With a phased rollout starting later this year and full availability expected by the end of 2026, customers can look forward to enjoying Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties at select McDonald’s locations. This partnership highlights the trend of major restaurant chains teaming up with popular food brands to offer unique and innovative products to their customers.
