Who founded Krispy Kreme in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1937?

Vernon Rudolph founded Krispy Kreme in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1937.

Rudolph acquired a yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a New Orleans chef and began selling doughnuts to grocery stores. He soon opened a retail shop, where the aroma of freshly fried doughnuts attracted passersby even before the business had a dedicated storefront strategy.

Krispy Kreme became especially associated with its Original Glazed doughnut. The company’s production process, including a visible doughnut-making line in many shops, helped make freshness part of the customer experience.

The brand expanded across the United States and later internationally. Its hot-light signs became a recognizable signal that freshly glazed doughnuts were being made, connecting the founder’s early retail approach with the company’s modern identity.