IBIE - 2019 Special Edition & Show Preview - 131

retail perspective: donut

department

DONUTS GO GOURMET
BY JO H N U N R E I N , B A K E

Since the ﬁrst donut shops began lining the streets of

including its newest in Kansas City, Missouri. Examples of

major US cities during the 1920s and '30s, the fried

its extreme ﬂavors (there are more than 70 on the menu)

donut (which originated from the Dutch name olykoeks,

include Oreo Cheesecake and the Cosmic Brownie.

or oily cakes) has served as one of America's favorite
breakfast foods. That is, until today.

Inspired by National Pickle Day on Nov. 14, Hurts Donut
in 2018 developed the Pickle Donut, a yeast donut that is

The new cream of the crop has elevated the humble

stuffed with a pickle cheesecake ﬁlling, dipped in vanilla

donut into a gourmet dessert, as evidenced by examples

icing, sprinkled with dried dill, and then topped with

like the specialty donuts at Los Angeles-based California

pickle juice cubes. Hurts Donut co-owner Tim Clegg re-

Donuts, which sell for $2, $2.50 or $3 apiece. The menu

calls the early trials and errors of offering any crazy top-

includes their signature Panda donut made with Oreo

ping - potato chips, Cheetos, all types of sugar cereals

pieces, Blueberry Toast Crunch, Strawberry and Nuts,

- they may imagine. "At ﬁrst, it didn't matter what we

Samoa, and Lucky Charms.

put on a donut. It sold." Top sellers now include maple
bacon bars, cotton candy donuts and any assorted top-

"Paying attention to trends and what's happening in

pings ranging from breakfast cereal to Nutella.

the food world is what helps us be in the know," says
Danette Kuoch, manager of California Donuts, which

One recent study revealed that more than 80 percent

opened more than 35 years ago as a tiny shop but cata-

of Gen Z (ages 18-21) and millennial (22-34) consum-

pulted into fame based on its eye-catching, photo-wor-

ers are interested in trying unique and adventurous

thy creations. "We have now become a late-night dessert

donut ﬂavors. The inaugural Donut Day survey from

spot in Los Angeles."

Dawn Foods found that 82 percent were willing to taste
outside-the-box donuts.

It is becoming quite evident that donut shops like these
are picking up where the cupcake movement left off, using

Duck Donuts welcomed spring 2019 with the return of

a bakery item as a platform to create a menu full of fun

a seasonal favorite, Key lime icing. The specialty citrus

and interesting tastes. Forget "31 ﬂavors." Donut shops like

icing is made with fresh lime zest and juice. It will be

Strange Donuts in St. Louis make more than a hundred.

available on donuts through the summer season at all
Duck Donuts locations.

ﬂavor pairings, integrating ﬂavors from around the world or

"It was a combination of the fresh ingredients used in

by capitalizing on current trends such as mashups.

our Key lime icing paired with a warm donut that had
Duck Donuts fans nationwide asking us to bring back

Hurts Donut Co., based in Springﬁeld, Missouri, calls

this spring-inspired ﬂavor after its debut last year," says

itself "the rebel of all donuts" and boasts 19 locations,

Russ DiGilio, CEO and founder of Duck Donuts.

IBIE 2019 Preshow Guide 131

DUCK DONUTS

Donut offerings can be kept fresh and evolving with unique
IBIE - 2019 Special Edition & Show Preview

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