Krispy Kreme Celebrates 500th International Location

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, Dec. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the company builds on its growth momentum in existing and new international markets, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation will celebrate its 500th international store in operation with the opening tomorrow of a new franchise shop in Aguascalientes, Mexico.  Since opening its first international location 11 years ago, the Company has strategically expanded its brand footprint into 20 international markets across Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.  With recently announced development agreements for Moscow, India, and Singapore, Krispy Kreme continues to grow its international presence in key markets around the world.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121206/CL24253 )

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts first opened in Mexico in 2004, and the new Aguascalientes store is the 90th Krispy Kreme store in Mexico.  The Mexico franchise is owned and operated by Taco Holding, S.A. de C.V, a dynamic and successful group that was recently named Krispy Kreme's 2012 International Franchisee of the Year.  Several exciting promotional activities are planned for fans as part of the new store opening.

"Sharing the unique Krispy Kreme brand experience with more and more fans around the globe is incredibly rewarding," said Jeff Welch, Krispy Kreme President - International. "Aguascalientes is our 500th international store in operation, and I believe we have only just begun to see what is possible for our brand globally.  A free-standing fresh store, it exemplifies and demonstrates the strength of our hub and spoke model approach.  As a result of a strategic approach to international growth, today we have commitments for nearly 400 additional international locations, so we are well on our way to meeting our corporate goal of 900 international stores by the end of FY17." 

"We are honored to be opening the 500th international Krispy Kreme store as we now enter the Aguascalientes market in Mexico," said Ramon Soler, Executive Director Krispy Kreme Mexico, and COO of Taco Holding.  "Our partnership with Krispy Kreme has never been stronger, and today we salute and celebrate with them on achieving such a significant milestone."

Krispy Kreme President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Morgan, commented, "Krispy Kreme is a unique and beloved brand around the world, and we could not be more proud of our successful international operations team and our international franchisees than we are on this significant occasion." 

The Krispy Kreme Original Glazed® doughnut can be found in over 730 locations in 21 countries, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Korea, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

About Taco Holding, S.A. de C.V
Taco Holding, S.A. de C.V is the licensed franchisee of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation in Mexico.  Founded in March 2011, Taco Holding also has the rights to the premium-quality brands Arrachera House, Sixties Burger, Sbarro, Neve Gelato and Cafe Diletto.  Taco Holding has more than 300 retail locations in Mexico and more than 2,000 employees. www.tacoholding.com

About Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme (NYSE:  KKD) is a leading branded specialty retailer and wholesaler of premium quality sweet treats and complementary products, including its signature Original Glazed® doughnut.  Headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, the Company has offered the highest quality doughnuts and great tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937.  Connect with Krispy Kreme at krispykreme.com and on Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter and YouTube.

Information contained in this press release, other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future economic performance, considering the information currently available to management.  These statements are not statements of historical fact.  Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or financial condition to differ materially from the expectations of future results, performance or financial condition we express or imply in any forward-looking statements.  The words "believe," "may," "could," "will," "should," "would," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "objective," "seek," "strive" or similar words, or the negative of these words, identify forward-looking statements.  Factors that could contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to:  the quality of Company and franchise store operations; our ability, and our dependence on the ability of our franchisees, to execute on our and their business plans; our relationships with our franchisees; our ability to implement our international growth strategy; our ability to implement our new domestic small shop operating model; political, economic, currency and other risks associated with our international operations; the price and availability of raw materials needed to produce doughnut mixes and other ingredients, and the price of motor fuel; our relationships with wholesale customers; our ability to protect our trademarks and trade secrets; changes in customer preferences and perceptions; risks associated with competition; risks related to the food service industry, including food safety and protection of personal information; compliance with government regulations relating to food products and franchising; and increased costs or other effects of new government regulations relating to healthcare benefits.  These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports and statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and may be beyond the Company's control, and could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.  New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors or to assess the impact of each such factor on the Company.  Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.