Google Halts UK YouTube TV Measurement Service After Legal Action 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Lower as Tech Earnings and Fed Decision Shape Market Sentiment 
Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think 
Gold Prices Hit Record High Above $5,500 as Iran Strike Fears Fuel Safe-Haven Demand 
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that 
SoftBank Shares Surge as It Eyes Up to $30 Billion New Investment in OpenAI 
Elon Musk Reportedly Eyes June 2026 SpaceX IPO Timed With Planetary Alignment and Birthday 
Starmer’s China Visit Signals New Era in UK–China Economic Relations 
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% Amid Trade and Global Uncertainty 
AI is driving down the price of knowledge – universities have to rethink what they offer 
ECB’s Cipollone Backs Digital Euro as Europe Pushes for Payment System Independence 
The American mass exodus to Canada amid Trump 2.0 has yet to materialize 
6 simple questions to tell if a ‘finfluencer’ is more flash than cash 
Alibaba-Backed Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2.5 to Challenge China’s AI Rivals 
The pandemic is still disrupting young people’s careers 
China to Boost Brazilian Soybean Imports in Early 2026 Amid Price Advantage 
Krispy Kreme's pilot with 160 McDonald's outlets in Kentucky has showcased its potential for serving fast-food chains and the promise of soaring sales. With the success of the drive-thru feature, Krispy Kreme's CFO, Josh Charlesworth, is optimistic about forging a broader partnership.
Even better, these McDonald's locations have drive-thrus, adding to the convenience for customers. Based on this success, Charlesworth expressed confidence in expanding their partnership with McDonald's to more locations.
However, while the test has been successful, it also highlights Krispy Kreme's limitations. The chain doesn't have unlimited hubs where they make and deliver doughnuts to what they call "DFD doors" (points of access with a limited selection of doughnuts). There are whole markets in the U.S. without Krispy Kreme's presence, which may affect the feasibility of a national rollout with McDonald's alone.
As a result, Krispy Kreme is considering expansion beyond just the McDonald's test. They want to sell their doughnuts in more locations nationwide, but this requires increasing their doughnut-making capacity in different regions. Charlesworth recognizes that with their growth rate in various channels, such as QSR, grocery, convenience, and club, they must plan for future expansion.
One possible solution to meet this increased demand is optimizing their existing hubs by adjusting operating hours, doughnut processing, packing layouts, and delivery windows. Krispy Kreme currently has 225 hubs in the U.S. and 45 franchisee-owned locations that could contribute to the production process. With strategic improvements, Charlesworth believes they could potentially double the number of doors their hubs serve.
However, compared to McDonald's 13,500 locations, it's clear that Krispy Kreme still has room to grow. Charlesworth suggests adding 8,000 to 10,000 DFD doors over time with a 10% to 15% increase in hubs. Additionally, the company is evolving its hubs into more efficient production facilities.
In the second quarter, Krispy Kreme experienced a revenue growth of 9%, driven in part by expanding their points of access to include 462 new locations. Their partnerships with renowned restaurants and retailers like McDonald's, Amazon, and Costco have significantly influenced this growth.
Photo: Ravi Palwe/Unsplash
