THE APEX TIMES
McDonald’s ends Krispy Kreme breakfast doughnut push after brief run
About a year after McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme teamed up to add doughnuts to the restaurant’s breakfast lineup, the item has been removed “for good,” according to a recent report.
McDonald’s has removed a breakfast doughnut item that had been tied to its high-profile partnership with Krispy Kreme, ending what the report describes as a limited run of the product. The change comes roughly a year after the companies announced a plan to bring Krispy Kreme doughnuts to McDonald’s customers, a move framed at the time as a way to expand the appeal of McDonald’s morning menu.
In early 2025, McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme announced a partnership that aimed to deliver doughnuts through McDonald’s locations. At the time, Krispy Kreme said its doughnuts were already present at 2,400 McDonald’s restaurants, suggesting an incremental rollout rather than a completely new distribution channel.
The announcement highlighted McDonald’s as a major scale partner for the doughnut brand, leveraging its extensive footprint to reach breakfast buyers. For McDonald’s, breakfast has long been a strategically important daypart, supported by higher-frequency visits and a dedicated menu that competes with quick-serve rivals offering bakery-style items and sweets.
However, the latest report indicates that the specific breakfast item tied to the Krispy Kreme collaboration has now been taken away permanently. The headline frames this as a definitive removal, implying the product is no longer available rather than temporarily paused.
Neither McDonald’s nor Krispy Kreme, in the material referenced by the report, disclosed the underlying reason for the removal, such as whether demand fell short, whether supply or menu-space constraints emerged, or whether the companies chose to redirect efforts to other platforms or promotions.
For the sector, the episode underscores how quickly limited-time or partnership-driven menu items can be evaluated in fast food. While branding collaborations can generate attention, they still depend on unit economics, customer repeat behavior, and operational fit, especially in breakfast where preparation workflows and menu complexity are tightly managed.
What remains unclear is whether the partnership itself has ended or whether only the breakfast item was discontinued. The referenced reporting focuses on the removal of the breakfast product “for good,” but it does not provide detail on whether doughnuts still appear at McDonald’s in other dayparts, through separate ordering channels, or in a different format.
Why It Matters
- Menu partnerships can help drive short-term traffic, but the quick removal suggests the product did not meet ongoing expectations or operational targets.
- Breakfast is a highly competitive category, and even a recognizable brand can be dropped if execution or demand underperforms.
- The lack of disclosed rationale means investors and franchise operators will look for indicates in future menu decisions rather than clear guidance from management.
Key Facts
- A report says McDonald’s has removed a breakfast item linked to Krispy Kreme “for good.”
- McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme announced their partnership in early 2025.
- Krispy Kreme stated at the time that its doughnuts were already available at 2,400 McDonald’s restaurants.
- The referenced material does not specify why the breakfast item was removed.
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