Krispy Kreme, the American donut chain, will open its first store in France at the end of November

It will now be possible to taste Homer Simpson's famous pink donut in Paris. The American chain specializing in donuts Krispy Kreme will open its first French brand at the Forum des Halles at the end of November and is aiming to open several dozen points of sale in 2024, mainly in Île-de-France, it announced on Thursday . For this first French establishment, intended to eventually supply other points of sale, the chain is aiming to recruit 100 people.

Krispy Kreme, founded in 1937 in North Carolina and listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2021, claims a presence in more than 35 countries with 11,000 points of sale. It is owned by the European fund JAB Holding, also a majority shareholder of the cosmetics group Coty and the fast food chain Prêt-à-Manger. The French branch, a joint venture with Wagram Finances (Columbus Cafe) is managed by Alexandre Maizoué, who notably worked at the La Pataterie and Planet Sushi restaurant chains.

France is one of the most popular countries for restaurant chains wishing to export internationally, behind the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, according to a study by Whitespace Partners published Thursday.

Unsurprisingly, American chains are among the most numerous to export, according to this study distributed by the organizers of the MAPIC commercial real estate show.

“Considering the large number of brands that are doing very well in the United States (Panera Bread, Chick-Fil-A, In'n'Out', etc.) and which have not yet grown in foreign markets (.. .) we anticipate that the flow of American brands will continue to grow in Europe and the Middle East,” predict the authors of the study.