Krispy Kreme Announces New International President
Updated: Thursday, December 28, 2000 10:37 PM ET
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (Nasdaq: KREM, news, msgs) announced today that Donald Henshall will join the Company in February 2001 as President of International Development.
Mr. Henshall, 38, comes to Krispy Kreme with broad international, retail and brand management experience. He was formerly Managing Director of New Business Development with Overland Group, Ltd. in London, a maker of branded footwear and apparel, and also held the position of Managing Director of Marketing. At Overland, he focused on the strategic development of two brands, Paul Smith and STRIDE. Prior to Overland, he was President and CEO of Diesel USA Inc., New York and Managing Director-UK & Ireland, Diesel (London) Ltd., a branded apparel retailer. Mr. Henshall developed, launched and executed the Diesel strategic business plan both in the UK and US. He began his career with Proctor and Gamble, United Kingdom where he held numerous management positions in sales and marketing.
With respect to taking the initial steps towards international expansion, Scott Livengood, the Company's Chairman, President, and CEO explained, "Our decision to hire Don as our President of Krispy Kreme International, while we are still in the early stages of our North American growth plans, is in response to our desire to give thorough and thoughtful consideration to an increasing number of inquiries from qualified parties interested in developing a variety of international markets. Hiring Don at this early stage gives us the opportunity to refine our global strategy and develop the capabilities and infrastructure to support expansion outside the US. It is also important to point out that we are structuring the organization in a way that insures no loss of focus on our domestic market opportunities."
In announcing Mr. Henshall's new position, Mr. Livengood also commented, "We are very excited to have Don join our management team. Don has spent a career working with and personally building brands in a variety of global settings. Further, having grown up in New Zealand and living and working in both the US and the UK gives Don a unique perspective which will be invaluable as we begin to transport the Krispy Kreme experience to different cultures."
Mr. Henshall echoed those sentiments. "Throughout my career, I have been passionate about building brands. The opportunity to participate in building this great brand internationally is a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity."
Krispy Kreme has opened 11 stores since the third quarter ending October 29, 2000 bringing the total new stores this year to 36. New stores opened in the fourth quarter include Bakersfield, CA, Richmond, VA, Nashville, TN, New Orleans, LA, Austin, TX, Rochester, NY, Florence, SC, Chicago, IL (2), San Diego, CA, and Sacramento, CA.
The 63-year-old North Carolina-based company is a leading branded specialty retailer of premium quality doughnuts, including the company's signature Hot Original Glazed. Krispy Kreme currently operates 175 stores in 28 states.
Krispy Kreme can be found on the World Wide Web at www.krispykreme.com .
Information contained in this press release, other than historical information, may be considered forward-looking in nature and is subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or expected. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on Krispy Kreme's operating results, performance or financial condition are its dependence on franchisees to execute its store expansion strategy, supply issues, competition and numerous other factors discussed in Krispy Kreme's S-1 Registration Statement, declared effective on April 4, 2000, that is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.
CONTACT: Investors, Michelle Parman, Senior Vice President Corporate Development of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., 336-733-3762; or Media, Stephen Millikin of LaForce & Stevens, 212-242-9353, for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts |
