Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Now Sold in Manila

Krispy Kreme opens for
business in Manila.
(photo: provided by Krispy Kreme)

By Scott McLean

The Philippines recently greeted Krispy Kreme with great enthusiasm despite the possibility of some of the harshest weather conditions imaginable.

Krispy Kreme, a major doughnut chain which started in the US, opened its doors on November 30 for the first time ever in the Philippines, the flagship store setting a number of records for a first day, the Krispy Kreme marketing department said.

As the donut store was preparing to open in Manila, the news media broadcast a typhoon warning which soon turned nasty elsewhere.

This didn't stop hundreds of hungry people from showing up many hours early to set a record number for dozens of doughnuts purchased on day one.

"It was really a surprise! There was a typhoon on the 30th and the 1st of December but it gave way to us because there were 500 people in line" which set a record for customers waiting "before the door opened," Mark Gamboa of the Krispy Kreme marketing department said Thursday in an interview.

The market for sweets in the Philippines keeps growing even though the country already has many delicious Filipino desserts, ice creams and even other brands of doughnuts.

But apparently some Filipinos had been waiting awhile for Krispy Kreme doughnuts to be sold in the Philippines.

Before the new Krispy Kreme store opened in Manila, "Filipinos were bringing Krispy Kreme doughnuts back from the US", Gamboa commented.


Customers waiting in line for doughnuts
(photo: provided by Krispy Kreme)

The first customer on opening day won a one year supply of glazed doughnuts, setting a record for waiting in line the longest before the doors opened.

Gamboa described how the first customer showed up at 7 am on Nov. 29, more than a full day before the 9 am, Nov. 30 opening. She bought a double dozen and coffee, spending 645 pesos, according to Gamboa.

More doughnut locations on the way...

Gamboa says the Krispy Kreme expansion plan is to add 30 stores during the next five years.

"The majority will be here in Manila, but we are very much open to Cebu and Davao," he commented.

If you live near Manila or plan to visit the Philippines before the end of the year, there will be another Krispy Kreme store opening in the SM MegaMall later this month. Stay tuned for more details...