Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation is an American doughnut company and coffeehouse chain owned by JAB Holding Company. Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The company became public in 2000 and in 2016 it was acquired by JAB Holding Company. Krispy Kreme has over 1,000 locations in more than 30 countries. The company is known for its glazed doughnuts and signature coffee.