On Valentine’s Day, love wasn’t the only thing in the air; consumers also showed a sweet tooth for Krispy Kreme‘s heart-shaped doughnuts, propelling the company to its most successful sales day ever in its first quarter.
CEO Josh Charlesworth disclosed this milestone during the company’s recent earnings call, emphasizing the historic significance of the achievement. Charlesworth, who assumed the role of chief executive in January 2024, highlighted the company’s resilience amidst recent consumer spending challenges, noting robust engagement with their doughnuts, particularly during significant events such as April’s solar eclipse.
In the first quarter, Krispy Kreme recorded a notable sales surge of 5.7%, partly attributed to a 26% increase in digital sales and high demand for their specialty doughnuts on Valentine’s Day.
Exceeding expectations, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company reported revenue of $442.7 million, translating to approximately $0.07 cents per share, surpassing the anticipated $434.1 million, or about $0.06 cents per share, according to FactSet analysts.
Looking ahead, Krispy Kreme aims to broaden its doughnut accessibility, including a recent collaboration with McDonald’s announced in March, expected to extend the reach of pastry delights to approximately 13,500 McDonald’s outlets nationwide. Additionally, plans are in motion to establish roughly 900 new stores across the United States by 2027.
During the earnings call, CEO Charlesworth outlined the company’s expansion strategy, emphasizing the importance of increasing points of access, with a focus on partnering with retailers like Target and expanding into markets such as Germany.