According to Scott Livengood, chairman, president and CEO of Krispy Kreme, "This new plant will triple our capacity. The combination of this new mixing facility and new equipment manufacturing plant in Winston-Salem will provide the infrastructure to support our growth for the next several years." Krispy Kreme has completed an expansion of its main facility in Winston-Salem, and relocated its equipment division to a larger site that provides mixing equipment for its retail stores. The company plans to open 36 new stores this year and an additional 36 in 2002, notes the Industrial Information site.

Founded in 1937, Krispy Kreme reported annual sales of over $300 million in 2000. The company now operates over 187 stores in 31 states throughout the US. Approximately 3,200 employees produce over 1.3 billion doughnuts per year.

In the Chicagoland area, Krispy Kreme's most recent opening was July 17 in Rosemont, which is adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. The location, 7050 N. Mannheim Rd., is just down the street from the Allstate Arena, formerly known as the Rosemont Horizon. Other retail sites are planned for southwest suburban Bolingbrook and west suburban Glendale Heights for October. West suburban St. Charles has announced a September 25, 2001 opening.