Starbucks Isn’t the Only US Fast Food Coming to Town

Move over, Starbucks, doughnut-maker Krispy Kreme and competitor Dunkin’ Donuts are also opening up in South Africa.

While much attention has been given to the fact that coffee giant Starbucks will open its first branch in South Africa in 2016, it’s been less publicized that at least two other very successful US chains will be doing likewise. (Krispy Kreme’s first doughnut store opens in Rosebank, Johannesburg, next week.)

Doughnuts (spelt donuts in the US) are those very un-South African pastry-type things with a hole in the middle. Krispy Kreme has also moved into other areas, including coffee, but it’s the glazed and other doughnuts – made in front of you – that most people know them for. “Get me a Krispy Kreme” is usually synonymous in the US for “Get me a doughnut”.

Dunkin’ Brands, meanwhile, was quoted in news reports earlier this year saying it wants to open 100 of its Baskin Robbins ice cream outlets and Dunkin’ Donut stores in South Africa over the next five years. (Even though the brand is called Dunkin’, few Americans seem to follow the tradition popular in South Africa of actually dunking your cookie or rusk in your tea or coffee.)

A Dunkin’ spokesman said at the time, the company would first open Baskin Robbins outlets in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein. Eighteen months later it would follow up with Dunkin’ Donuts stores.

Krispy Kreme, it was reported earlier this year, signed a master licence agreement with Fournews – a franchisor that owns brands including News Café, Moyo and Smooch, a frozen yoghurt chain – and John & Gerry’s Brands to open 31 Krispy Kreme shops in South Africa. The first stores apparently will open in Gauteng, and then other parts of the country later on.

Sixteen Krispy Kreme doughnut flavours will be on sale, according to news reports, the top 10 bestsellers in the world and six flavours unique to the South African market.