McDonald’s shared that they will stop serving Krispy Kreme doughnuts at their restaurants beginning at 0:00:01 AM on or about July 2, 2025.
The two companies initially entered into a partnership in 2022 as a limited purpose test in Kentucky, and then expanded the offer to approximately 2,400 McDonald’s locations across the United States.
While the doughnuts were popular with customers, Krispy Kreme told us the model was no longer economically viable due to cost of producing and delivering fresh doughnuts to the McDonald’s restaurants at over 2400 locations and sales cratered.
If you make a doughnut, and the cost to deliver it, is far more than what you saw in sales, it just doesn't make sense for either brand. Each brand agreed that it was time to end, through mutual termination, the Krispy Kreme partnership.
McDonald's confirmed the Krispy Kreme offerings only represented a small offering on their menu. Highly popular products such as Original Glazed and Chocolate Iced Doughnuts can still be purchased in participating McDonald's locations until some time early July.
After that point, customers can purchase doughnuts from Krispy Kreme locations, or even grocery stores in their area carrying Krispy Kreme.
McDonald's and Krispy Kreme are ending their partnership by 2025 due to low demand. Apple might be buying a new AI company to boost Siri. #MCD #AMZN #AAPL #GOOG #finance pic.twitter.com/a68mWHXDxo
— Tiblio (@tiblio) June 25, 2025
What’s Ahead for Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s
As the partnership comes to a close, Krispy Kreme is changing course. The company had already paused their growth in May 2025 after disappointing sales figures, and then pulled their earnings forecast shortly thereafter while their stock price plummeted as much as 73%.
Instead, Krispy Kreme will focus primarily on more profitable distribution channels like supermarket sales and international, where distribution is easier and cheaper.
McDonald's, on the other hand, shift its focus back to basic menu items and breakfast in particular, at a more value-oriented price/quality point.
Company officials said that while valuable insights were gained from the partnership, McDonald's needs to manage growing costs and ensure its stores provide consistent service.
Both companies said that this experience will help guide their future decisions and potential partnerships, even as this one comes to a close.
