A clear sign that Christmas, or the end of the world. must be at hand is that my North Carolina doughnuts, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, have been embraced in France. Now back in 2013 when I was on sabbatical at my alma mater, Durham University in England suddenly a Krispy Kreme shop opened in downtown Durham amidst all the old shops. And was mobbed. Here below is the proof that Krispy Kreme is sign of the endtimes, or at least Christmas has finally come to France…. Here’s a part of the NY Times article from last week….
“As dawn broke in central Paris on Wednesday, a throng of 500 people, mostly French, stood with uncharacteristic patience in a snaking line, intent on buying a decidedly un-French confection: an American doughnut. A hot, glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut, to be exact.
It was the grand opening of the chain in France, and patrons — dozens of whom had camped out overnight — watched through a giant window as a conveyor belt ferried fried dough toward a waterfall of sugary frosting. When the doors opened, they swarmed inside, ordering doughnuts by the dozen to take out, or noshing at bistro tables in a cafe-style setting.
“The French love American products, and there’s a hype around American food chains,” said Amir Boudokhane, 25, a project manager at a medical clinic, as he waited to get in. A Krispy Kreme ad had popped up on his Instagram feed, and he rushed to get there before work. “I’ll be late,” he said with a smile. “But at least I’ll have doughnuts for my colleagues.”
The sight of French people flocking to American fare might have seemed surreal a generation ago in a country that loves its Michelin-starred restaurants, three-hour dinners and iconic baguette. But today, the world’s gastronomic capital happens to be one of the biggest markets in Europe for major American fast-food chains, as evolving consumer habits, influenced by a more casual younger generation and social media, reshape the dining landscape.
In the spring, Popeye’s fried chicken drew huge crowds in Paris when it opened the first of 350 restaurants planned across France. Wendy’s has announced plans to set up shop in France. Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza, Chipotle, Steak ’n Shake, Carl’s Jr. and Five Guys have long had toeholds, but they are rapidly expanding their footprints with plans for hundreds of new locations across the country.
Leading the pack is McDonald’s. After the United States, France is the chain’s most profitable country, with more than 6 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in sales from over 1,500 restaurants in 2022. France is also the second-biggest market for Burger King, with €1.2 billion in revenue last year.
“France is an El Dorado for American fast-food brands,” said Xavier Expilly, a consultant who helped oversee the French openings of Burger King, Five Guys and others. “Habits are shifting — people are eating faster than before, and they want a different experience,” he noted. “The American chains know how to respond to that need perfectly.”
Krispy Kreme is the latest. At the opening on Wednesday, a D.J. thumped out dance music to the waiting crowd. A red carpet adorned the entrance, while the company’s mascot — a doughnut — bobbled alongside workers handing out fresh glazed goodies to eager patrons.”
Rumor has it that the Parisian Krispy Kreme shop has already sold 144,000 doughnuts (see Rev. 7). What could possibly be next?
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