McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme have announced the termination of their partnership that brought Krispy Kreme doughnuts to McDonald’s locations. This decision was made public on Tuesday, June 24, after both companies noted that the initiative did not meet expectations in terms of sales.
Initially, the partnership started with the introduction of three Krispy Kreme varieties—Original Glazed Doughnuts, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles, and Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled Doughnuts—in about 2,400 McDonald’s outlets. But despite the collaborative efforts put into marketing and training, the partnership faced significant challenges in aligning costs with customer demand. Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth expressed that, ultimately, the venture became unsustainable.
The collaboration had begun its trial phase in late 2023, with a limited rollout of doughnuts in Kentucky, and expanded to the Chicago area in October 2024. There was optimism from both companies about potentially offering these doughnuts at McDonald’s nationwide by the end of 2026, aiming to enhance their breakfast offerings alongside iconic treats. There was even a promotional event where Krispy Kreme offered free doughnuts to customers who presented a McDonald’s receipt during the promotional window.
As the two companies part ways, Krispy Kreme plans to focus on enhancing the availability of its products independently, while McDonald’s will redirect its efforts back toward strengthening its breakfast menu.
This split may present new opportunities for Krispy Kreme to explore other partnerships or distribution strategies, keeping their commitment to making their doughnuts more accessible to fans. For McDonald’s, refocusing on their breakfast business could invigorate that segment, potentially leading to new, innovative menu items in the future.