The Most Popular Donut Franchise, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the donut franchise you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 27, 2024 06:35
Imagine walking into a bustling city street, hungry for something sweet and satisfying — a donut. But with so many options, deciding where to go can be overwhelming. Wouldn't it be handy to have a clear, crowd-sourced guide to show you where people are finding their favorite donut delights?
This list you're viewing isn't just any list. It's a dynamic, constantly updated ranking of the best donut franchises, as voted by you and fellow donut enthusiasts. Your votes help determine which spots rise to the top and guide others to make delicious decisions. So, take part, cast your vote, and see where your favorite stacks up!
What Is the Most Popular Donut Franchise?
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162votes
Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0Dunkin' Donuts
William RosenbergWith over 12,900 locations worldwide, Dunkin' Donuts is the largest donut franchise in the world. They offer a wide variety of flavors and types of donuts, and also serve coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and other baked goods.Dunkin' Donuts is a popular drive-thru restaurant chain that specializes in serving coffee and baked goods. With over 11,000 locations worldwide, it has become a household name for many coffee and donut enthusiasts. The menu includes a variety of donut flavors, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, and an extensive selection of hot and cold beverages.- Founded: 1950
- Headquarters: Canton, Massachusetts, USA
- Number of locations: 11,000+
- Signature product: Original Blend coffee
- Menu items: Donuts, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, coffee, tea, and more
Dunkin' Donuts in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular donut place
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular bakery in America
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous coffee shop
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular drive-thru restaurants
- Position 10 of 10 in Most successful franchise in the Philippines
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236votes
Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 3.0Krispy Kreme
Vernon RudolphKrispy Kreme is known for their hot and fresh glazed donuts, and has over 1,000 locations worldwide. They also offer a variety of other donut flavors, as well as coffee and other beverages.Krispy Kreme is a well-known American bakery chain that specializes in doughnuts. It is famous for its signature Original Glazed doughnut, which is a light and fluffy yeast-raised doughnut coated in a sweet glaze. Krispy Kreme has a cult-like following and is highly regarded for its fresh and delicious doughnuts.- Year Established: 1937
- Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Number of Locations: Over 1,000 worldwide
- Signature Product: Original Glazed doughnut
- Menu Variety: Wide selection of doughnuts, including filled, cake, and specialty options
Krispy Kreme in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular donut place
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular bakery in America
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313votes
Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) www.wyprawa.info · CC BY 2.5Tim Hortons
Tim Horton and Ron JoyceWhile primarily a coffee and breakfast chain, Tim Hortons is also known for their donuts, with over 4,800 locations worldwide. They offer a variety of flavors and types of donuts, as well as other baked goods and sandwiches.Tim Hortons is a renowned Canadian fast-food restaurant chain famous for its coffee and doughnuts. It has become an iconic staple of Canadian culture and has expanded globally.- Founded: 1964
- Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
- Number of Locations: over 4,800
- Product Range: Coffee, doughnuts, baked goods, breakfast items, lunch options, and more
- Drive-thru Availability: Available at most locations
Tim Hortons in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular restaurant in Canada
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular donut place
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular culture in Canada
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous coffee shop
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular bakery in America
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular drive-thru restaurants
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423votes
Kuha455405 · CC BY-SA 3.0Mister Donut
Harry WinokurOriginally founded in the United States, Mister Donut is now primarily based in Japan and has over 1,300 locations worldwide. They offer a variety of donut flavors and types, as well as other baked goods and beverages.Mister Donut is a globally renowned donut franchise known for its delicious and freshly baked donuts. It offers a wide variety of flavors and toppings, catering to the diverse taste preferences of donut lovers across the world. The donuts are made with high-quality ingredients, ensuring a delightful and flavorful experience with every bite.- Foundation year: 1956
- Number of locations: over 1,300
- Variety of flavors: over 70
- Menu offerings: donuts, coffee, muffins, and sandwiches
- International presence: operates in over 25 countries
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521votes
Minnaert · CC BY-SA 3.0Winchell's Donut House
Verne W. WinchellWinchell's has over 170 locations in the United States, and is known for their classic donut flavors and unique donut twists. They also offer other baked goods and beverages.Winchell's Donut House is a popular American donut franchise known for its wide variety of delicious donuts. With over 150 locations across the United States, Winchell's has been satisfying customers' sweet tooth since its inception in 1948.- Established: 1948
- Number of locations: 150+
- Origin: United States
- Specialty: Donuts
- Variety of flavors: Wide
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613votes
Daylight Donuts
Tommy and Lucille DayDaylight Donuts is a franchise based in the United States with over 1,000 locations worldwide. They offer a variety of donut flavors and types, as well as other baked goods and beverages.Daylight Donuts is a popular donut franchise known for their fresh and delicious donuts. They have been in business for over 60 years, serving a wide variety of donut flavors and styles.- Year Founded: 1954
- Number of Locations: over 900
- Menu Variety: over 60 donut flavors
- Unique Offering: Apple Fritters
- Operating Hours: vary by location, typically open early morning
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714votes
Anthony92931 · CC BY-SA 3.0Honey Dew Donuts
Richard J. BowenHoney Dew Donuts is a New England-based franchise with over 140 locations. They offer a variety of donut flavors and types, as well as coffee and other beverages.Honey Dew Donuts is a popular donut franchise that specializes in selling donuts and coffee. It was founded in 1973 and has since grown into a thriving chain with numerous locations across the United States. Honey Dew Donuts is known for its wide variety of donut flavors and options, as well as their signature blend of coffee. With a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, Honey Dew Donuts has become a beloved brand among donut enthusiasts.- Year Founded: 1973
- Locations: Multiple across the United States
- Specialty: Donuts and coffee
- Variety of Flavors: Wide range of donut flavors
- Signature Product: Honey Dew Donuts coffee blend
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88votes
Country Style
Peter HardingCountry Style is a Canadian-based franchise with over 420 locations. They offer a variety of donut flavors and types, as well as other baked goods and beverages.Country Style is a popular donut franchise known for its delicious and unique donut creations. It offers a wide variety of flavors and toppings, catering to the preferences of donut lovers everywhere. With its warm and cozy ambiance, Country Style is a favorite spot for people to enjoy their morning coffee and a freshly baked donut. The franchise has gained a loyal customer base due to its commitment to quality and consistency in every bite.- Established: 1963
- Number of locations: Over 100
- Menu variety: Over 30 different donut flavors
- Signature donut: Maple Bacon
- Specialty drinks: Wide range of flavored coffees
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98votes
Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0LaMar's is a United States-based franchise with over 25 locations. They offer a variety of classic and unique donut flavors, as well as other baked goods and beverages. -
103votes
WhisperToMe · CC0Shipley Do-Nuts
Lawrence Shipley Sr.Shipley Do-Nuts is a United States-based franchise with over 300 locations. They are known for their classic glazed donuts, as well as other flavors and types of donuts. They also offer kolaches and other baked goods.Shipley Do-Nuts is a popular donut franchise known for its delicious, freshly made donuts and pastries. With a history dating back to 1936, Shipley Do-Nuts has become a cherished and widely recognized brand in the United States. The franchise offers a wide variety of donut flavors and styles, from classic glazed to unique creations. The warm and inviting atmosphere of their shops makes for a delightful donut experience. Shipley Do-Nuts is committed to using high-quality ingredients and traditional recipes to ensure their donuts are always tasty and satisfying.- Year Established: 1936
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas
- Franchise Locations: Over 300
- Popular Donut Flavors: Glazed, Chocolate Frosted, Cinnamon Sugar, Maple, Blueberry Cake
- Menu Variety: Donuts, Kolaches, Coffee, Iced Drinks
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular donut franchise
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Number of locationsA larger number of franchises across various locations usually indicates higher popularity and brand recognition.
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Annual sales / revenueA popular donut franchise typically has higher annual sales and revenue, indicating demand for their products and services.
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Brand recognition and reputationThe brand's visibility, exposure, and reputation in the market can be a key factor in determining its popularity.
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Customer satisfactionThe level of customer satisfaction plays an important role in determining the popularity of a franchise. A higher customer satisfaction rate usually indicates a more popular and successful franchise.
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Product variety and qualityA popular donut franchise offers a wide and diverse range of donut products, catering to various preferences and tastes. The quality of the donuts served also plays a crucial role in the popularity of a franchise.
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PricingCompetitive and affordable prices can contribute to the popularity of a donut franchise.
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Innovation and consistencyA popular donut franchise should consistently offer new and exciting products, while maintaining the quality of their existing products. This helps in keeping customers engaged and loyal to the brand.
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Marketing and advertising effortsThe effectiveness of a franchise's marketing and advertising efforts plays an important role in its popularity. A strong marketing presence makes the brand more visible and helps attract more customers.
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Franchise supportA popular franchise typically offers comprehensive support to its franchisees, including operational and marketing support, training, and resources. This helps in building a strong network of franchises and contributes to overall success.
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Awards and accoladesAccolades and awards from industry organizations and media outlets can serve as indicators of a franchise's popularity and success.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular donut franchise. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or franchise is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2832 views
- 200 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each franchise once every 24 hours. The rank of each franchise is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular donut franchise
Background Information: The Most Popular Donut Franchises
Donuts have become a staple breakfast food for many people across the world. With so many donut franchises out there, it can be tough to know which one to choose. That's why we conducted a poll to find out which donut franchise is the most popular amongst our users.
In the United States, Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme are two of the biggest contenders for the title of the most popular donut franchise. Dunkin' Donuts is a classic favorite, offering a wide range of flavors and breakfast items in addition to their signature donuts. Krispy Kreme, on the other hand, is known for their melt-in-your-mouth glazed donuts and innovative seasonal flavors.
Outside of the US, Tim Hortons is a popular choice in Canada, while J.CO Donuts & Coffee has a strong presence in Southeast Asia. Each franchise has its own unique style and flavor offerings, making it difficult to determine a clear winner.
Ultimately, the most popular donut franchise may depend on personal taste and regional availability. But with so many delicious options to choose from, it's safe to say that the love for donuts is universal.
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