The past year has left many Americans skeptical of democracy. But in the case of Krispy Kreme, the power to vote is a delectable emblem with a shiny glaze. The North Carolina-based doughnut company is leaving it up to fans to decide the next glazed doughnut flavor.
The Original Krispy Kreme doughnut is made from a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe kept under wraps by its founder, Vernon Rudolph. The original recipe was said to have been purchased back in the 1930s by Rudolph's uncle from a New Orleans chef named Joe LeBeau. Like any prized possession, the purported secret recipe can still be found in a locked safe just beside the founder's old office.
The brand's flagship doughnut line, the Original Glazed Doughnut, is the main draw for Kreme fans. Fluffy, soft and enrobed in sweet, glazed coating, a Krispy Kreme doughnut is an experience. If you're not immune to the pull of Krispy Kreme's neon "HOT" sign, you're certainly not alone.
The chain keeps its core doughnuts on the menu year-round, such as the Chocolate Classics -- the Original Glazed taken one step further and dipped luxuriously in chocolate icing. But recently the brand has introduced new limited-time flavors usually to commemorate national holidays; Krispy Kreme's St. Patrick's Doughnut, for example, was an unprecedented green in 2017, which was widely received by fans.
Now, Jackie Woodward, Chief Marketing Officer of Krispy Kreme, has announced the second wave of Krispy Kreme innovation. In a statement, Woodward highlighted the company's eventful 2017 year: the limited-release chocolate glazed doughnut to celebrate the total solar eclipse; gingerbread molasses doughnuts for the holidays.
And now, fans have the mic. Krispy Kreme has decided to give fans the voting power to elect the next limited-edition glazed doughnut flavor. From Jan. 16 through Jan. 22, fans can vote between four flavor candidates -- blueberry, caramel, lemon or maple -- at the company's website.
Everyone is allowed to cast their ballot (one vote per day). Then, when the ballots are closed, the winner will be announced on Jan. 25, after which the flavor will be released for a full week this coming spring at participating Krispy Kreme shops throughout the U.S.
May the best flavor win.