Krispy Kreme Hawaii's first Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is getting closer to a reality with the signing of a lease between a Maui land owner and franchisee KremeWorks USA for a 4,200-square-foot location near Kahului Airport.
picks Maui site
By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.comA Seattle spokesman or the Pacific Northwest-Hawaii-Alaska franchise said the company does not predict startup times until ground is broken and that has yet to happen in Hawaii. KremeWorks said it will open three Krispy Kremes, the other two on Oahu, within the next five year.
The owner of the franchise, Chicago restaurant operator Gerard Centioli, has said he doesn't worry about the already existing operations in the islands of brand-name competitor Dunkin' Donuts. Krispy Kreme offers a different experience, he said.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts are made in the individual outlets in public view. KremeWorks said the stores will feature red neon "Hot Doughnuts Now" signs, customer seating and proprietary coffee brands.
The Dunkin' Donuts franchise holder for Hawaii, Kenneth Iong's ICH Group, said it welcomes the competition.
Dean Matsushima, ICH executive director, said today his company already has five Dunkin' Donuts operations open and a sixth, at Kapolei, is nearly finished. "We have quite a bit of expansion coming and we're looking at Maui too," he said.
ICH, which also operates the Sushi Chef business, prepares its doughnuts in a central kitchen and does not make them at the outlets. The kitchen delivers several times a day and also supplies some nine Dunkin' Donuts display cases on Oahu military bases.
