Krispy Kreme to expand in Taiwan

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. has inked a deal to open 10 restaurants in Taiwan during the next five years, the company said Monday.

The subsidiary of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. has entered into a franchise agreement with franchisee Huan Hsin Co. Ltd., a company that has been doing business in the restaurant sector, food processing and importation in China, Taiwan and Malaysia for the past 30 years, Krispy Kreme said in a statement.

Huan Hsin Co. is owned and managed by Hung Chun Hsu, the company’s president. Along with his brother, Cheng Chien Hsu, Chun Hsu operates other restaurant concepts, including about 90 Super gCar fried chicken takeout locations in Shanghai, Suzhou and Nanjing, and four Mr. Wish bubble tea and fresh fruit stores in Shanghai.

"Hung Chun Hsu and Cheng Chien Hsu have significant experience in the retail food business in China that they will be able to apply in Taiwan,” said Jeff Welch, Krispy Kreme president of international, in a statement. “Their passion for customer service and knowledge of the Taiwanese customer are important assets as they bring the melt-in-your-mouth Krispy Kreme experience to the market."

Chun Hsu said Taiwanese people already have a lot of experience with Western food.

“Doughnuts are very popular in Taiwan, and we expect the market to grow quickly for Krispy Kreme through our signature Original Glazed doughnut and premium coffees,” he said in a statement. “We are excited to be part of the worldwide Krispy Kreme family."

Krispy Kreme has made international expansion a priority in recent years. In December, the company opened its 500^th international restaurant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The company has locations in 22 countries, including Australia, Japan, Kuwait, Turkey, the United Kingdom and India.

Krispy Kreme has more than 730 locations systemwide, most of which are located outside the U.S.

Contact Erin Dostal at erin.dostal@penton.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @ErinDostal