IamA retail worker at Krispy Kreme AMA!

What is your store policy on free late night donuts to stoned highschoolers?

When I was in highschool we would roll through the drive through after hours and one of the employees would ask how many people we had in our car. We would tell them and they would tell us to come around to the window. We would pull up and they would give us a dozen original glazed per person. Then stop by the convenience store for some Yoohoos and we'd be set.

Lol, you may be the reason the company has told us not to give out any donuts. All leftover donuts are thrown away at the end of the night, but sometimes we give a dozen to the mall security guards or janitors.

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Haha. I'd be all for giving some out. We literally throw away about 5 garbage bags full of donuts. Apparently we can't give them out because when they used to, people would turn around and sell them to make money.

Why cant you take them home??? Seems like a waste

We get a dozen each week, but otherwise they're trashed. Just a corporate policy.

The Hot Now sign is some powerful neon sex.

How many / percentage of stores actually make them fresh and hot in the shop?

99%. To my knowledge, only ours and one other new store don't. There may be a few older ones scattered here and there, but most have the manufacturing line in the back.

Is it always only the plain glazed donuts that are sold hot? Back when Krispy Kreme was new to the area where I lived, I noticed the sign and asked the guy at the drive through "What's hot right now?" After we drove away, my husband pointed out that the guy probably thought I was hitting on him.

Yep. Only glazed. Sometimes others if you get there very early in the morning.

At which part of the process do you add the crack?

Usually somewhere between the glaze fountain and picking them off the line. ;)

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I think I missed the joke...haha

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Hmmm interesting, I had no idea. Lol

Is there that one old guy who's there every day, reading a paper and drinking coffee? I feel like every time i go into a krispy kreme, anywhere in the US, there's that one guy...

congrats on the job!

We have a couple. Some people will literally come in at the start of my shift (usually 3-4pm) and won't leave until we tell them we're closed. Usually reading a book or browsing the web.

What kind of crack is in those things?

None (that I know of, lol). I should note that my store is a "test store" for KK, in that we don't manufacture the donuts on-site. They make them at a nearby store, they bring them in each morning and as we need more, and we heat up the original glazed in an oven. We were the first store like this for KK, and to my knowledge there has only been one more since.

They recently put one in my hometown and the donuts do not taste fresh at all. They are so dense and doughy, I have a hard time believing it was made onsite. Are yours that texture as well? I used to manage convenience stores and they are the exact same texture and flavor of the Prairie City donuts we served, which were thaw-and-serve. The hash browns are epic and the coffee is great, but the donuts just aren't my thing.

Ours certainly taste fresh, just not hot all of the time. An easy way to tell if they are made on site is if there is a window into the manufacturing line in the lobby. If you can't see the line, chances are they're made offsite.

Can you say what city? There is one near me in VC that has terrible doughnuts in comparison to other KKs, but I don't know of any other nearby stores.

Rather not, but don't know what VC is. We are located in a shopping mall

That's helpful, you would know what VC is. I was just wondering if our store was the same format as yours since it is relatively new and the taste is so off. Regardless, it would make sense if they were also reheating.

You could always ask. And the oven for reheating should be clearly visible, it's not something KK tries to hide.

Are you in Hendersonville NC then? That's where one of those stores is iirc.

Not there.

Do cops come by for donuts as much as you thought?

Believe it or not, yes! We have about 5 cops that are regulars.

Free for cops? I worked for a TV station and if you rolled through in a live truck it was free every time.

Sometimes if they swing by around closing time.

Are you liking your job? What's it like?

What's your favourite thing on the menu?

Employee discount?

I do enjoy it, we only opened right before Thanksgiving so I've only been dealing with the Christmas rush which has been stressful. It's sometimes hard to keep up depending on what station you're on.

Favorite thing is either the new Nutella donut or the Chocolate custard filled and the iced vanilla latte.

50%, one free dozen each week, one free specialty drink each shift (latte, chiller, etc.)

Damn, those are some great benefits. What's your favourite station to work?

They are! I like either cash register (being able to interact with the customers and not very stressful), or packing the orders (also not stressful, better for days when you don't feel like talking to people, ha).

Well, a big congratulations on your first job! Thank you for answering my questions.

Thank you!

What's your favorite doughnut?

(Also can confirm he works at KK)

New nutella donut, and thanks pal ;)

I'm happy KK is coming to my town in FL! I tried it once in Tennessee and was blown away. What is your favorite album to listen to?

You'll probably get the new store design like mine. Very earth-toned and Starbucks-ish.

Also, I've been listening to Death of a Bachelor by Panic! at the Disco for the last few weeks.

What is the most popular donut of your store?

Original Glazed of course, otherwise probably Chocolate Iced Glazed

somebody told me all Krispy Kreme are kosher. Can you vouch?

I'll explain it to you the way it was briefly explained to me by our trainer. They're made with kosher ingredients, but aren't like "certified" kosher.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Getting to turn someone's day around, especially kids. A donut can always put a smile on someone's face. The dozen free donuts each week are pretty good too.

What's a cool "hack" when ordering? Do you get tired of eating doughnuts?

Always tell us how many donuts you will be ordering before you start naming them. For instance, if you start calling out donuts and you end up at a dozen without telling me, it will be more expensive. I have to select the box size before picking the donuts to go in the box. So if you want a 3 pack, say "Let me get a 3 pack of ________".

Also, if you want extra flavoring in your drink, tell us at the pickup counter. Chances are we will just be nice and add it in without charging you, whereas if you tell us at the register, we have to add it on the ticket.

Certain donuts, yes. Chocolate custard, my all time favorite, absolutely not.

How different do the doughnuts taste from state to state? I live in Winston-Salem where it was founded, and when the sign says "HOT", you have to stop!

I've only tasted KK in my area, but I can attest that people make a point to stop when the sign is lit.

What are a couple things that you warn strictly against buying/doing at Krispy Kreme and why?

Hmm. Pass on the raspberry/lemon filled donuts. The flavors just don't work imo. Also don't get pissed at me (at the register) if we are out of something. It's not our fault and, chances are, we're just as frustrated as you. Our shipments were messed up for the first few weeks so we were out of cups, lids, syrups, etc. here and there. Had more than a few people cuss me out, but I couldn't do anything about it.

Take that back. The raspberry filled donuts there are totally legit.

Lol personally not a fan!

Why is the Blueberry Fritter on the menu, yet no store ever has them?

It isn't on our menu. We only carry the apple fritter.

I had an uncle who told me that in his younger working days, he was a KK delivery driver. He said if anyone were to walk up to him and ask, 'Got any extras?', it was a corporate rule to indeed give the requestor a freebee. Is this true now, then, or not at all?

Hmm. Probably true. I haven't heard that personally though. They did tell us specifically that they give us the power to remedy problems, so if someone didn't like their donut, we have the full power to give them whatever we want to make the problem better. Got the wrong donut? I give them two of the correct donut and let them keep the wrong one.

What would you say is the weight of your average customer?

Being in a southern state known for obesity, higher than normal. I'll leave it at that.

Nope. Right into the garbage bag and into the trash compactor in the back...lol. Not my decision, but it's what we have to do.

Are you sick of the smell and/or the donuts?

Absolutely, yes. My uniform and car smell of donuts and espresso beans. I could still go for a donut every now and then.

Bummer that something so damn good is ruined.

I know! I kind of expected it going in though.

What was your craziest moment on the job?

So far, Black Friday and a couple of days through December that have been nearly as busy. Line out the door the whole 7 hours I was on the clock. No time to collect your thoughts. Just make what was on the screen and move along. We had messes everywhere that we had no time to clean up. We somehow made it through.

Hey fellow Krispy Krew member! I'm a supervisor/baker for a store in Orlando, FL. My shift was recent recognized by the CEO, and I'm feeling proud. How's everything going with you guys?

It's going good! Stressful in the Christmas season since our store is in the middle of a mall. Congrats on the recognition!

During Chanukah do you see a spike in sales?

We've been crazy busy this whole month, so hard to differentiate.

How much donuts do you add to your sugar ?

Lol

how many times have you put your dick through a donut? is that how donut holes are made?

😂😂

The Krispy Kreme glaze is too intense for me, I like Dunkin Donuts better, you don't feel like you just ate a five pound bag of sugar over there.

Does every Krispy Kreme have a donut machine or do some locations just get the donuts delivered from another location with a donut machine?

What is the strangest thing anyone has tried to order?

I can somewhat agree. Not a huge fan of glazed myself.

We were the first KK in the country that gets the donuts delivered. There is only one more after us. To my knowledge, every other location manufactures their donuts. KK is trying to go to smaller-format stores, and we were the first.

I had a lady order a latte with every flavor we have (caramel, mocha, caramel mocha, vanilla, hazelnut, and toffee). She drank the whole thing and said it was great.

I think New York Penn Station has had a Krispy Kreme inside the station for quite some time that gets the donuts delivered. I've never had a fresh Krispy Kreme from that location, and I worked a block away, so I walked by it almost every day, and never saw fresh donuts coming from the back.

Can you check with corporate on this? If there's a machine in the back of the Penn Station Krispy Kreme, I may have to go there again and just stand and wait.

I'll see what I can find

Please come back and answer. Are you familiar with the "Back at it again at the Krispy Kreme" Vine?

Yes lmfao. I actually found that at work. We were dying.

1. Why do you not advertise on TV or Youtube? 2.How is the Nutella Donut?

I've seen a few KK adverts on TV.

The Nutella donut is actually incredible. Everything you would imagine it to be. Get the filled one.

Late but I really want to know, when I go to Krispy Kremes baked af do they know?

😂😂 we can tell

What is it like working for Kk? are they a good business to work for?

They are, I love my boss and supervisors and have had no trouble yet.

What percentage of people think it's pronounced "krem"?

Never heard it like that, so I guess 0% where I'm from!

So when I worked at the Edinburgh Drive Thru branch, they didn't care much for working practices or workers rights, is that across the board or just with new store openings?? Also did that branch end up with court proceedings??

They seem to care about that here.

How many cops do you see on a daily basis?

2 or 3

What do you think it was that made Krispy Kreme unsuccessful in Massachusetts?

Dunkin.

Why did you guys run out of Glazed Chocolate Cake doughnuts two nights ago?

We don't sell chocolate cake donuts.

How often do you guys replace the glaze in the machine in the window? Everytime I go there I can't help but imagine 3 day old sugar coating the pastry.

Our shop doesn't make the donuts on site. We get them from a nearby shop.

Many years ago, I wrote KK corporate about false adverstiing because the type of store you describe does not meet the traditional standard of "Hot and Now".

"Not and Then" means eating a doughnut that was cooked earlier in the day and is then just reheated and glazed now. This process is really a slap in the face to anyone who knows "Not and Now".

So, my question is this. What do you think about my rant?

I can agree, and it's as frustrating to you as it is to me. I wish we had a full store where we could just whip up some more donuts if we ran out.

I honestly was skeptical on how they would taste after being reheated. You'd be surprised. They really do taste like they just came off the line (I trained for 2 weeks at a store that actually made the donuts on-site).

What do you have to do to learn how to be an actual KK donut... baker?

Not sure, the manufacturing and retail jobs are completely separate. The only thing retail workers do on the manufacturing line is pick them off and box them up. From what I saw, it wasn't much, just loading the machinery and letting it run.

I guess I'm a snob, but there is no way that a reheated doughnut tastes anything as close to a fresh-cooked product.

It was becaus of the poor taste of the reheated one that I figured out there was something wrong.

For the record, I'm referencing only the the original glazed doughnut.

I think it does. We've had a few people ask where our manufacturing line is because they think they were just made. The only ones we heat up are the original glaze.

Maybe your location had an older oven setup? Not sure.

Does the original contain pig fat?

Not that I am aware of, not completely sure.

Where do you work?

At a Krispy Kreme ;)

Why are there Krispy Kreme's in MN?!?!?!

lol I have no idea

I'm sure this is too late, but what do I have to do get a chocolate cake (previously known as chocolate Devil's food cake) doughnut? One store I went to said they were seasonal, another said they had no idea what I was talking about (and that's the store I have gotten them from previously, for many years). I haven't seen one that flavor at an actual Krispy Kreme location in years; the last one I had was from a gas station. They're still listed on the website as available at select locations, but I cant figure out which ones...

Never heard of it! Sometimes if you call ahead the location can make some just for you.

Do you put sodium in your donuts because I'm so damn thirsty after eating a few?

Lol no, but same.

Why is there a Krispy Kreme on Maui in Hawaii and not on Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island?

That's a question for corporate, I have no idea. Sorry!

Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts?

Krispy Kreme, honestly, even before I worked there. Not a fan of Dunkin.

What are your feelings for paying it forward and /or slowly ordering whole high?

We had a gentleman come in and order a cup of coffee. These two girls behind him were considering what to get in their dozen, and he paid for it. It started a small chain reaction and it was pretty heartwarming.

Have you saw the ThreadBanger Video?

Edit: Added video links

Well you happened to catch me right as I am on a Desktop:

First one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cd4iSOPaE

Second one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqxLYnNvnu0

WARNING: May have some profanity so do not watch at work

Nope, link when you get a chance

Well you happened to catch me right as I am on a Desktop:

First one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cd4iSOPaE

Second one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqxLYnNvnu0

WARNING: May have some profanity so do not watch at work

Thanks for the warning, ha. Thank goodness I am not having to work today. I have seen that video, and have actually considered trying it myself.

I didn't want to mark it NSFW. Since non of my comments are NSFW/NSFL yet.

Ooh, I can see where my comment could have been read wrong. No you're good. I was referring to not having to work today because apparently we have been super busy, luckily I am off.

Ok well since it's midnight here where I am writing this comment so Merry Christmas!

Also check out thteadbanger it's a great channel with a lot of comedy.

Thanks! Same to you.

I'm a baker myself, but at a local bakery. It's just two of us and the owner 6 days a week. Closed on Mondays.

My question: Do you guys function as a bakery that makes donuts or are you just a donut shop? (If I ordered chocolate covered strawberries, would you just say no?)

We are a donut shop. The next closest KK is about 10 minutes away, so they make our donuts there and bring them in.

Bizarre. Never heard of such a thing. At least when we sell out of donuts we just close. Sounds like you get more donuts shipped in. Rough.

Really depends. If it's like an hour or two before closing, we don't call and ask for more, we just let it run out. But if we run out of original glaze at noon like we did on Black Friday, we've gotta call and ask for another delivery.

I'd hate to be the guy who has to now make double the amount of donuts he used to lol

Lol we were just talking about that the other day.

why do the doughnuts have so much glaze on them compared to dough? I cant taste anything but sugar

At a shop that manufactures the donuts, if you call ahead, you can request a dozen with light or no glaze.