Krispy Kreme admits defeat in Canada: to close 3 of its 6 stores in Ontario

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Just listening to the CBC right now, and there's a report that Krispy Kreme, who came into the Canadian marketplace with goals of taking on Tim Horton's, possibly even driving Tim's out of business, has decided to close 3 of its 6 Ontario locations. I can't remember the exact details, but it looks like they're closing down the Windsor location (up against 37 Timmy's), and the Don Mills location inside Toronto.

Some of the people that they interviewed say they didn't bother going to Krispy Kreme very often, if at all, and those who did go to the Krispy Kreme stores often found the donuts too sweet and too fatty for their tastes.

I have to agree; while donuts are supposed to be sweet, Krispy Kremes always gave me the sugar shivers, and I always felt like a bucket of shit after eating them. Timmy's more cakelike donuts were always more welcome and comforting...it was like eating something real, instead of sugared air.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't KK having problems stateside as well?

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

BLAME CANADA

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

yep. too fast, too furious. just dumped their ceo i think.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope they don't pull back from the UK, I would be less fat but my life would be that much poorer if they did.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

It's going to be like Wendy's all over again.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i saw an expert on tv a couple of months ago talking about how krispy kreme's fatal flaw was that they really only sell donuts, while timho's is totally diversified. those bread-bowl soups saved a canadian institution!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not like KK didn't get a more than fair chance. Two years ago or so, it seemed like there was an actual news item everytime someone ate a KK donut.

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

see also: tulips.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

flaming buckets of shit:
ihttp://www.569th.com/4images/application_files/4images/data/media/26/celovsky_mann_shit_detail3.jpg

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Is Wendy's still going in the states?

― Ed (dali), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

of course it is.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

should we send you some frosties?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Ed, how can a gourmet like yourself tolerate the overpowering sweetness of teh Krispy Kreme? They're nigh-on inedible.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

In the mid/late 90s Taco Bell, Wendys and the awful thin sliced beef sandwich place all opened a few stores in London then pulled back. Wendy's did best but left and sold it's sites to McDonalds. The best fast food burgers, based on our limited sample of restaurants.

I have a little bit of a sweet tooth, plus they are light, fluffy and the raspberry jeely has like liquid crack.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I like both, but if I had to choose I'd definitely pick Tim Horton's. Not so much for the donuts as for the coffee...Krispy Kreme's coffee is kind of bleh, and to add insult to injury they have added cream to my coffee almost every time even though I order black coffee. And what good is a donut without decent coffee to go with it? Besides, TimHo's other offerings (like sandwiches and soup) are tasty as well.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

i love the krispy kreme chocolate glaze omg.

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Robin's Donuts has the best donut-dunking coffee. I think they put something special in it.

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps someone needs to set up a store with Wendy's, Arby's and Taco Bel ALL IN THE SAME RESTAURANT in London. I'd go.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Despite the existence of a chain called DUNKIN' DONUTS I had never ever ever considered the possibility that donuts could be dunked. I am teh dumbass.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

And what good is a donut without decent coffee to go with it?

Wow -- I don't think I've ever had a donut or coffee together! I just get orange juice.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost - won't happen until YUM! takes over the fast food industry.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

NED WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP FUCKING UP?!

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Can you drink coffee without eating a donut? Is there some etiquette I've missed?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope you don't dunk your donut in the OJ, that's gross.

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Huk! I was gonna say that I'm actually still a Robin's boy at heart, but I think there's only three of us here who actually have any clue what the fuck a Robin's is anyhow.

I still have my big-ass soup mug from Robin's! It is reminding me that "YOU ALWAYS GET A BREAK AT ROBIN'S!" They had the best sandwiches. And the donuts and coffee were addictive.

Orange juice with donuts, Ned? That's disgusting.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps someone needs to set up a store with Wendy's, Arby's and Taco Bel ALL IN THE SAME RESTAURANT in London. I'd go

taco bell on its own would do for me!! (and it'd be hard cos wendy's arby's and taco bell are run by different chains..)

i have never tried dunking tacos into coffee

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Coffee - donuts = okay.
Donuts - coffee = INCORRECTITUDE, DUDE.

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I seem to have stumbled across some societal assumption I never knew existed with such force.

There is a combined KFC/Taco Bell that just opened across from UCI. Then the Lee's Sandwiches opened a week later and kicked its ass.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to live two blocks away from a Robin's and would frequently go there to work on stuff when I felt like smoking up a storm and not making my apt all stinky. Now there's no smoking anywhere in SK, and the nearest Robin's is in the Bus Depot, but I still go there sometimes. I think they put cardamum in their coffee, and that gives it an addictive je ne sais quoi, mais j'en ai besoin de un fois par semaine.

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

KK doughnuts in Tescos is my downfall. If they ever open a production line near my work I will be the size of a house. Their filter coffee is good for no-nonsense filter coffee as well, plus they are one of the only places I know of in London that put's out cream for coffee.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

For a while, in Western Canada, all the KFCs had Taco Bell inside them, and you could get a drumstick and wing with chili fries supremo and have the foulest gas!

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I need to try this.

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The whole KFC/TacoBell thing really made me sad...I mean, I like both of them enough when I'm in the mood for some greasy fast food, but one of the real treats always used to be going to the KFC and getting a medium fries and a medium gravy, and just dipping. Now, most of the KFCs I see now have the Taco Bell in 'em, and the fries are Taco Bell fries, which aren't as much fun to dip, because they're scaly. And the gravy doesn't taste as good to me any more either, but that's probably just me.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Can you drink coffee without eating a donut? Is there some etiquette I've missed?

Not in Canada.
They look at me funny in Tim Hortons when I ask for tea.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

a drumstick and wing with chili fries supremo and have the foulest gas!

haha you make it sound like a big win. "I have the foulest gas! None have gas more foul than I! Kneel before me!"

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost

yes, WTF is with Taco Bell pushing fries in all their combos? Did I miss something -- do all fast food chains have to offer fries as part of their combos? If I'm at Bell, I'm there because I DON'T want fries -- give me an extra soft taco instead.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 28 January 2005 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

YUM! is trying to make us all Canadian. Taco Bells in the US didn't have fries before.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

You can get a baked potato instead of fries at Wendy's.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck krispy kreme. im so addicted to the beard papa cream puffs that just opened.

http://www.sassygals.net/gallery/albums/Misc/pic_179.jpg

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

ok, so they dont look so good there, but so yummy.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

There are more then 6 locations in Ontario though. There are at least two in the PATH alone, both of which are pretty damm slow.
Tim Horton's DESTROYED Dunkin Donuts despite Baskin Robbins help and now they slayed the beast that was KK.

On a side note, I saw a Robin's Donuts in Halifax of all places.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

KONICHIWA PHIL!!!!!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Krispee. Light of my life, fat of my loins. Krisp-eeeeee.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I always found Robin's donuts too dry, but I'm not a pro. Tim's chocolate-chocolate-iced has my heart when it is in the donut mood. Cakey, moist, chocolate - the donut holy trinity. (KK do not qualify. But I'm drooling about those creme puffs though I've never had that particular kind.)

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 28 January 2005 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure whether they were counting those outlets in the PATH, actually, maybe just the ones where they have the conveyor belts and cookers? I know there's one at Don Mills+Eglinton in the Superstore, one in Mississauga, one at Scarborough Town Centre...but where else for a full-on store?

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Tim Horton's DESTROYED Dunkin Donuts

They destroyed Coffee Time too (lots of closures recently), although CT are Canadian, no?

Tim Hortons -- the Canadian Microsoft, except that everybody likes it!

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Phil, those things look like battered cornish hens.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

a fresh krispy kreme glazed donut is like a handjob from an angel--except in your mouth!

...but once they get to your stomach its another story.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

If Robin's are what I think they are, they were freaky and ancient looking, and we were shocked to discover they were a chain.

Krispy Kreme can fuck a pustule-laden goat and keel over. I hate their donuts and I hate their company and I hate the hype and good riddance.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't find more than 7 locations in Ontario using the store locator:
Richmond Hill, North York, Scarborough, Mississauga, Kitchener, London, Windsor

5 in Quebec! 1 in Delta, BC! 1 in Calgary!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.theminorthirds.com/pix-tim-hortons.jpg

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

(That's in Lloydminster. Alberta side, I think.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/charts/big.chart?symb=kkd&compidx=aaaaa%3A0&ma=0&maval=9&uf=0&lf=1&lf2=0&lf3=0&type=2&size=2&state=8&sid=173821&style=320&time=12&freq=2&nosettings=1&rand=9341&mocktick=1&rand=397

this is just beautiful. I love charts like this.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Compare that to 2,400 Tim's locations in Canada, and you can see why KK is running away!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.aftonfood.com/images/reg_logo.gif

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

If Robin's are what I think they are, they were freaky and ancient looking, and we were shocked to discover they were a chain.

By that, I know that Robin's are exactly what you think they are.

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Chris! I've eaten at that Lloydminster Tim Horton's too! The best thing about it is the smell of crude oil that permeates everything!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

The Tim's I've been to the most in a town I've spent the least amount of time in is in Sault Ste Marie of all places. I also spent the night in the airport there once, and it was a long night, since the airport closed at 6 p.m. and didn't open again until 8 a.m. But the security guard left a door open for me so I could smoke.

― Huk-L, Friday, 28 January 2005 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Truth to tell, I don't like KKD much anymore. They taste more plastic than they used to. But SHIPLEY'S DONUTS in Tupelo would make the gods themselves week with joy.

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Also the total freshness of their iceberg lettuce!

That's totally the Robin's I was thinking of. Did we miss out by not going? Have I mentioned how much I really want to go back?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

week = weep

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

(Now I'm trying to remember where we saw that first Robin's. It had to be someplace we spent a little time. Maybe it was Edmonton, actually.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Tim Hortons has only just started invading Vancouver. When I was growing up, there was one at 96th and King George Hwy. in Surrey, and that was it! In the last several years, they've finally got a downtown location(open 24 hrs), and are filling out the suburbs. It was framed as a tough battle, because we're the city of TWO Starbucks on the same corner, etc. but the Tim's is always packed out. god, and there is ALWAYS a table of cops, it's such a cliche, but they're always there.

The Krispy Kreme opened to big fanfare, but it's calmed down a lot lately. I like the doughnuts a lot when they're fresh, with black coffee to cut the sugar. After several hours, they're horrid, mind, but fresh off the line they are very nice. It's 24 hrs, so we'll drive out there for kicks sometimes in the evening.

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

If you kids had tasted Krispy Kreme before they went national, you'd be doggin' that shit.

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Oy, I spent some time at the Sault Ste Marie airport, only a couple hours, and that was more than enough...it's an okay enough small airport, but it's just that...SMALL. I can't imagine being there overnight. (The other thing about it, if I remember correctly, is that there's no washrooms on the gate side of the security checkpoint, so if you have to throw a whiz, you have to go back out into the lobby and then back through the security line. But since it's so small, that's not the same kind of imposition it would be in a place like Toronto.

I've seen Robin's in Brandon and Saskatoon. We used to have three in Brandon, but not sure if we still do.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

There was one Robin's at 148th and 108th in Surrey, but it's closed now. My mother brought home a doughnut from them once that turned out to be moldy. We never went back.

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

There's no topping Timmies chocolate dip for donut yumminess.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 28 January 2005 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

If you kids had tasted Krispy Kreme before they went national, you'd be doggin' that shit.

hells yes.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 January 2005 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

i was totally obsessed with robins, and i miss them deeply

― anthony, Friday, 28 January 2005 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

rock hardy otm

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 28 January 2005 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Krispy Kreme's coffee is kind of bleh

Sadly, this is true. Even Dunkin Donuts coffee kicks its butt up and down the street.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 28 January 2005 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Just to bug Ed: US Wendy's are now proudly offering fry-substitution for value meals! It's a bold step into the fast-food future. A Wendy's sandwich + salad/potato/chili is kind of miles beyond the fast-food alternatives, as far as "being like actual real food" goes.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 28 January 2005 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I've had both KK and Tim Horton's, and while a freshly made glazed KK donut REALLY hits the spot about twice a year, Tim Hortons donuts always hit the spot. More cakey, less sugar. Sean OTM. KK donuts are things you should have when you're on vacation somewhere, not every morning. The whole factor of a KK donut is a novelty value in itself.. that's probably the downfall. The craze is over.

Now, here's hoping Tim Hortons takes over the states. (PLEASE!) I can only resort to Tim Hortons when I'm on certain street corners in Vancouver, or at a shopping mall like Metrotown, or slightly away from Downtown Victoria off Douglas St. and that's it. :/

― donut christ (donut), Friday, 28 January 2005 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Then again, I don't think the west coast is a donut coast, per se. It's more of a muffin coast. The northwest is more scone territory. Hell, Seattle has more places that sell gelato than ice cream. *raises pinky finger as I take a strident sip of my organic soy breve*

― donut christ (donut), Friday, 28 January 2005 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

The Tim's expansion has been extra successul these past 8 years or so since they merged with Wendy's - notice that as diverse as each of their menus are, they don't step on each other's business (like no salads at Tim's, no breakfast or soups at Wendy's). Chili is the only food product I can think of that overlaps between them.

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 29 January 2005 01:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Did you not notice the succulent iceberg lettuce in Lloydminster? It might as well be a salad shoppe!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 29 January 2005 01:02 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Apparently it was even worse than we initially thought:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1113601810234&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

Krispy Kreme's Canadian franchise files for protection

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., the one-time stock market and media darling that has been troubled by regulatory and financial problems for much of the past year, said yesterday it has obtained bankruptcy protection for its Canadian franchisee.
...
However, Krispy Kreme spokesperson Amy Hughes stressed the company did not plan to close its Canadian operations anytime soon."We plan on riding the ship and going on in Canada," Hughes said. "We are certainly not closing our doors."
...
When Krispy Kreme, the Number 2 doughnut maker in the U.S., opened its first store in Mississauga in December 2001, there were line-ups for the company's hot glazed doughnut. Since then, a series of missteps, including over-expansion, has caused the company's move to Canada to founder.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 18 April 2005 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they should just renamed themselves Krispy FUCKIN' Kreme to save face because:

a) the "KK" acronym is just two thirds of another FAR less marketable acronym

b) KFK rings off the mouth just like KFC

c) KFK sounds like a side project of KMFDM

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 18 April 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

A name change won't help them come Roll Up The Rim season.

although CT are Canadian, no?

As far as I know they are. Though they are a younger franchaise then Tim, only about 20 years old. Country Style I think is inbetween the two.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 18 April 2005 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember Country Style from my youth, so they're a bit older than 20 I think.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 18 April 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

From Answers.com:

Country Style has been in business for over 40 years. By 2001, Country Style had been forced to close a quarter of its stores due to decreasing market share. It currently ranks second behind Tim Hortons.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 18 April 2005 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Yet another sign of Tim's vast power in this area.

Fuck a Krispy Kreme. Go down in shiny, fatty flames, fuckers.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 18 April 2005 19:32 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck 'em. every time I'd go to the KK at 21st Ave. in Nashville I'd get myself one and one for someone at work, and they'd always be shilling to make me buy a dozen--"don't you want a dozen..." and then give me this look when I would say, "what the hell am I gonna do with a dozen doughnuts, you want everyone to get diabetes??!!" up-selling at a doughnut place...

we've had 'em for years in the south, and I never cared one way or another. When they opened one in the Denver 'burbs, people were lining up for twenty minutes to get some, never got that either. And too, are they the people who got that word "crispy" started, I mean why you need to add a "y" to the word "crisp" has always been beyond me.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 12:04 (twenty-one years ago)

McCain's Crispy Fries don't sell in the south?
Feel blessed Jay hasn't incited a revolt for all the strong silent types.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

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