🥑 Krispy Kreme — Key Facts
| Parent / Controller | JAB Holding Company (Reimann family) |
| Stock Listing | NASDAQ: DNUT (IPO July 2021; JAB controls majority) |
| JAB Acquired KK | 2016 for $1.35 billion |
| Founded | 1937 by Vernon Rudolph, Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Locations | 1,400+ shops in 35+ countries |
| McDonald’s Partnership | Krispy Kreme donuts sold at McDonald’s US (announced 2023) |
Krispy Kreme is a globally recognized donut and coffee brand controlled by JAB Holding Company — the investment arm of the German Reimann family (one of Europe’s wealthiest dynasties) — which acquired Krispy Kreme in 2016 for $1.35 billion. The company is also publicly listed on NASDAQ (DNUT), but JAB retains majority control through its stake.
Who Is the Owner of Krispy Kreme?
Krispy Kreme’s controlling owner is JAB Holding Company, the private investment vehicle of the Reimann family of Germany, one of Europe’s wealthiest families. JAB acquired Krispy Kreme in July 2016 for approximately $1.35 billion, taking it private after an earlier period as a publicly traded company. JAB then relisted Krispy Kreme on NASDAQ in July 2021 under the ticker DNUT in an IPO that raised around $500 million — while retaining majority ownership. JAB is a Luxembourg-registered holding company managed by professional executives on behalf of the Reimann family heirs.
JAB’s Food and Beverage Empire
JAB Holding Company has assembled one of the world’s largest portfolios of food and beverage brands, with a particular focus on coffee and casual dining. Its holdings include Panera Bread, Pret a Manger, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Caribou Coffee, Keurig Dr Pepper (partial), JDE Peet’s (Jacobs, Douwe Egberts, Peet’s Coffee), and others. This caffeine-focused empire positions JAB as a direct competitor to Nestlé and Starbucks in the global coffee and morning food occasion market.
Krispy Kreme’s History and McDonald’s Deal
Krispy Kreme was founded in 1937 by Vernon Rudolph, who bought a yeast-raised donut recipe from a New Orleans chef and began making donuts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The “Hot Now” neon sign — lit when a fresh batch of original glazed donuts comes off the line — became one of American fast food’s most iconic marketing devices. In 2023, Krispy Kreme announced a major distribution partnership with McDonald’s to sell its donuts in McDonald’s US restaurants — a deal that dramatically expanded Krispy Kreme’s access points beyond its own shops.
