Anyone who frequents Sydney's domestic airport will no doubt be familiar with the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts outlet and the long line of customers queuing for their sugary fix. While this isn't the only outlet for these tempting treats, it's certainly one of the better known.
These deliciously light doughnuts have their origins in the US, way back in 1937 when the founder, Vernon Carver, established the first outlets in Paducah, Kentucky. Since then, the business has seen a unique evolution and growth, involving changes to both production and distribution. There are now almost 400 stores worldwide − more than half of those are in the US.
So what's so special about these doughnuts and what differentiates Krispy Kreme from other doughnuts? The basic Krispy Kreme recipe has stayed the same for the past 70 years and the original secret recipe is apparently locked in a vault in America, known only by two people.
One ingredient that's not so secret is the yeast. This makes the doughnuts puff up with air, giving the light, fluffy texture, which is quite a contrast to the heavier cake doughnuts that many of us are used to.
The fact that each original glazed doughnut has 200 calories and 4 grams of trans fat, known to cause coronary heart disease, doesn't seem to deter customers. Enthusiasts will tell you that buying by the dozen is the norm. You can go for a half dozen, but there is a clever pricing disincentive established by the owners that doesn't make it worthwhile.
Mr Vishram Krishna Vishram, a technology sales specialist based in Brisbane, has been buying Krispy Kremes for his office colleagues for the past two years.
"I tend to travel to Sydney at least once every two months, and my return trip from Sydney back to Brisbane always includes at least one box of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for my work colleagues," says Mr Vishram.
"Unfortunately it is hard to stop at one, especially since they come in about fifteen different flavours. We have an unwritten rule in our office that whoever goes to Sydney buys the Krispy Kremes," Mr Vishram explained. "The problem now is that we often have several boxes of uneaten doughnuts in the work fridge as everyone has complied with the rule!"
Although Krispy Kreme's popularity in the US has declined somewhat in recent years, due to increased competition and the popularity of low carbohydrate diets, the same can't be said of Australia where 24 stores have opened in the past 7 years.
If you don't live near a Krispy Kreme franchise, you can still get a taste by ordering online (delivery in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra). Die-hard fans can even sign up to an exclusive mailing list to receive latest flavour updates and newsletters.
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