A man surprised in front of the logos of two donut shops.

Krispy Kreme beats Dunkin' Donuts in the United States: an unexpected novelty

Krispy Kreme takes a bold step that leaves Dunkin' Donuts in the shadows and shakes up the donut market in the United States

In the world of desserts, there are combinations that never fail: a chocolate cake, an apple pie, or a banana split in summer. Of course, donuts hold a special place among the classics. Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts, two giants in this universe, fight daily to maintain leadership with original proposals and eye-catching promotions.

Both chains are accustomed to launching limited edition products to capture the public's attention. However, this time it was Krispy Kreme that surprised with a double play: a new collection of donuts that mixes two irresistible classics and a well-thought-out promotion. This combination not only caught the attention of customers but also put their main competitor in a bind.

Facade of a Krispy Kreme store with a sign that says
A new donut collection mixes two irresistible classics | Google Maps

An inspired trio of flavors

Since April 22, Krispy Kreme has launched its new Craving Cheesecake Collection. This collection brings together three never-before-seen donuts, all inspired by the classic cheesecake. It is a proposal that unites two iconic desserts in a single experience.

Among the options is the Strawberry Dream Cheesecake Doughnut, filled with cheesecake-flavored cream, glazed with strawberry, and topped with red fruit cookie crunch. The Cookies & Kreme Cheesecake Doughnut includes a creamy cheesecake filling with cookies, is covered with white glaze, with chocolate cookie pieces and powdered sugar. Finally, the Caramel Delight Cheesecake Doughnut offers a cinnamon base, covered with cheesecake cream, caramel, and a drizzle of syrup on top.

A box of assorted Krispy Kreme donuts with different toppings and glazes, including classic glazed donuts, strawberry-covered donuts with sprinkles, and chocolate-covered donuts with cookie crumbs, presented on a plate and in a box.
Krispy Kreme launches a new collection of cheesecake-flavored donuts | Krispy Kreme

These products are available individually or in boxes of a dozen. They can also be obtained through the website and the official app, both for delivery and pickup. In some selected supermarkets, they are also sold in packs of six units, which expands their reach to new customers.

A strategic move that takes by surprise

But that was not all, just a few days earlier, on April 15, Krispy Kreme took advantage of Tax Day in the United States to launch a promotion. By purchasing a dozen Original Glazed donuts, customers received a second one for the value of the local sales tax. The amount varied by state, but it was always very economical.

Additionally, the brand offered a digital option: by placing an online order and entering the code "TaxBreak," the second dozen was completely free. This promotion was available for pickup or delivery, which made it accessible to more people. In contrast, Dunkin Donuts did not present any offer that day.

A coffee and donut shop in a mall with customers being served at the counter.
Dunkin' Donuts didn't run any promotion on April 15 | Dunkin' Donuts

This difference did not go unnoticed. While Krispy Kreme managed to connect emotionally with the public on a stressful day, their competitor remained silent. The result was a victory in image and presence for one of the country's sweetest brands.