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Krispy Kreme

Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2021

    Retailers named in lawsuit over mask requirements

    Lawsuit filed

    Jennifer Reinoehl filed a lawsuit against the CDC and multiple retailers, including Krispy Kreme, Sephora, and AMC Theatres, alleging that their mask requirements violated laws intended to protect people with disabilities. The article reports the allegations and does not report a court determination.

    Source excerpt

    • An Indiana woman has filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and multiple retailers, alleging that their mask requirements violated laws meant to protect people with disabilities.
    • Krispy Kreme, Sephora, and AMC Theatres were among the 16 named defendants in the lawsuit filed on August 18 by Jennifer Reinoehl in US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
    • Jennifer Reinoehl filed the lawsuit on Aug. 18, stating that the CDC mask requirements violated laws meant to protect people with disabilities. Krispy Kreme, Sephora and AMC Theatres were among the 16 defendants named in the lawsuit.
    Source

  2. 2021

    Krispy Kreme faces backlash over vaccine promotion

    Public backlash

    Krispy Kreme faced criticism over its free-doughnut promotion for vaccinated customers; critics said the offer excluded people who did not want the vaccine and raised health concerns about daily doughnut consumption.

    Source excerpt

    • But critics say that the offer excludes those who don't want the vaccine. Others say that the promotion is incredibly bad for your health.
    Source

  3. 2015

    Krispy Kreme apologizes for kids-club promotion name

    Company response

    Krispy Kreme apologized after its UK kids-club promotion used the name “Krispy Kreme Klub,” abbreviated as “KKK,” drawing criticism on social media. The company said it had withdrawn all online and in-store material and would take steps to apply greater precautions to publicity materials.

    Company response

    • Apology — Krispy Kreme

      Krispy Kreme apologizes unreservedly for the inappropriate name of a customer promotion at one of our stores.

    • Remediation — Krispy Kreme

      All material, both online and in the store, has been withdrawn and steps are being taken to ensure that greater precautions are taken with publicity materials in the future.

    Source excerpt

    • All material, both online and in the store, has been withdrawn and steps are being taken to ensure that greater precautions are taken with publicity materials in the future.
    • However, after the company posted about KKK, which is commonly used to reference the American white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan, many people took to Twitter and Facebook to scold the doughnut company.
    • Krispy Kreme Doughnuts issued an apology after the company promoted a kids club in the United Kingdom called the Krispy Kreme Klub, or KKK.
    Source

  4. 2009

    SEC cease-and-desist order

    The SEC alleged that the company inflated revenue and used improper transactions involving company stores. Krispy Kreme subsequently reduced reported net income by more than $10.5 million over two years and undertook remedial actions.

    Source

  5. 2005

    Accounting and franchisee-relationship controversy

    Krispy Kreme faced allegations involving channel stuffing, questionable franchisee buybacks, self-dealing concerns, and accounting practices connected to earnings targets during its rapid public-company expansion.

    Source