'Hot Doughnuts Now' Are Coming to Fresno

The last day of July is a first for Fresno as Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) opens California's newest store at 8040 N. Blackstone Ave. Opening Tuesday, July 31, the Fresno Krispy Kreme store will start serving hot Original Glazed doughnuts promptly at 5:30 a.m.

For fans such as Jim Sharp, being able to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts without leaving town is an exciting prospect. Acting out of curiosity, the Fresno resident tried his first Krispy Kreme doughnut last year in Bakersfield and has been going back for more ever since.

"They gave me my first one, and it was incredible. I'll never forget it. It was light, it was warm, it was gooey ...It was indescribably delicious. It was love at first bite," Sharp said. "Every time I go now, it's a two-dozen run."

The Fresno Krispy Kreme is part of the Northern California Krispy Kreme franchise, Golden Gate Doughnuts LLC, operated by the husband and wife team of Brad and Maria Bruckman. The Bruckmans also operate stores in Union City, Mountain View, Sacramento, Citrus Heights and Modesto. Future stores are planned for Daly City, Pittsburg and San Jose in the Bay Area, and Elk Grove, south of Sacramento.

"We're thrilled to be bringing the Krispy Kreme experience to Fresno," said Bruckman. "We have a great team of employees who are excited to be serving Krispy Kreme doughnuts to our loyal fans, and we're also looking forward to becoming an active member of the community through our fundraising programs and nonprofit partnerships."

As part of their commitment to the community, the Fresno Krispy Kreme will share a portion of its opening day revenues with Fresno Youth Advocates. In addition, the five other stores run by Golden Gate Doughnuts will celebrate the Fresno opening by sharing a portion of Tuesday's receipts with nonprofit groups in their own area.

Like many Krispy Kreme stores throughout the country, the Fresno store will feature 24-hour drive-thru service, plenty of customer seating and a glass viewing area so customers can watch the doughnuts being made. Those familiar with Krispy Kreme will recognize the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign which lights up every time the store is making its hot Original Glazed doughnuts. Fifteen varieties of doughnuts will be available along with beverages such as Berkeley Farms Chug milk, Pepsi sodas, fruit juices, bottled water and, of course, coffee. Krispy Kreme has its own specialty blend of coffee made from a selection of 100 percent arabica beans. The coffee beans are ground fresh in stores for each individual pot of brewed coffee to ensure that customers enjoy a delicious cup of smooth, rich coffee at all times.

Founded in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1937, Krispy Kreme quickly became a Southern tradition and today is expanding throughout the country. The company is a leading branded specialty retailer of premium quality doughnuts, including the company's signature Hot Original Glazed. Krispy Kreme currently operates more than 185 stores in 31 states, and an estimated 3.5 million Krispy Kreme doughnuts are made each day nationally. To learn more about Krispy Kreme, visit http://www.krispykreme.com on the World Wide Web.

Information contained in this press release, other than historical information, may be considered forward-looking in nature and is subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or expected. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on Krispy Kreme's operating results, performance or financial condition are its dependence on franchisees to execute its store expansion strategy, supply issues, competition and numerous other factors discussed in Krispy Kreme's periodic reports, proxy statement and other information statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.
-0- 07/17/2001
/CONTACT: investors, Michelle Parman, Senior Vice President of Corporate
Development, +1-336-733-3762, or media, Stan Parker, Senior Vice President of Marketing, +1-336-733-3750, both of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.krispykreme.com /
(KKD)