The fast\u2011food giant and the iconic doughnut maker call it quits after a brief nationwide rollout that never left the test phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McDonald\u2019s lovers who added a glazed treat to their morning coffee will have to look elsewhere beginning July\u202f2, when the chain officially pulls all Krispy\u00a0Kreme doughnuts from its breakfast menu. The move ends a 16\u2011month partnership that began with high hopes\u2014and three crowd\u2011pleasing flavors\u2014yet ultimately failed to turn a profit for the doughnut company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First announced in March\u00a02024 after a 160\u2011store test in Kentucky, the deal expanded to roughly 2,400 restaurants across Indiana and Kentucky by March\u00a030,\u00a02025. Plans originally called for nationwide availability by late\u202f2026. However, Krispy\u00a0Kreme\u2019s leadership said in May that costs were outpacing demand, forcing both brands to \u201creassess the deployment schedule.\u201d When talks ended, executives agreed that the economics simply didn\u2019t stack up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alyssa\u202fBuetikofer, McDonald\u2019s USA\u2019s chief marketing and customer\u2011experience officer, praised the quality of the sweets but noted they represented \u201ca small, non\u2011material part\u201d of the Golden Arches\u2019 robust breakfast business. Krispy\u00a0Kreme CEO Josh\u202fCharlesworth was blunter: the company never found a way to \u201cbring our costs in line with unit demand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the split, both firms described the trial as \u201ccollaborative\u201d and left the door open for future projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need a sweet fix with your Egg\u202fMcMuffin? While doughnuts disappear, signature McCaf\u00e9 pastries remain\u2014including blueberry muffins, apple fritters, and cinnamon rolls. McDonald\u2019s also hinted at new baked\u2011good experiments later this year. So what can you order instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\nKey metric<\/th> Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Test launch<\/td> Oct.\u202f2022 (160 stores)<\/td><\/tr> Public rollout announced<\/td> Mar.\u202f2024<\/td><\/tr> Peak locations served<\/td> ~2,400 (IN & KY)<\/td><\/tr> Planned nationwide launch<\/td> End\u202f2026 (canceled)<\/td><\/tr> Final day on menu<\/td> July\u202f2,\u202f2025<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What customers should know about breakfast options after Krispy Kreme\u2019s departure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n