"Krispy Kreme was founded on July 13, 1937, by Vernon Rudolph in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after he bought a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a New Orleans chef. Initially, it started as a wholesale business selling to grocery stores, but the enticing smell of fresh doughnuts led to direct sales to customers."
1933: Vernon Rudolph and his uncle buy a doughnut shop in Paducah, Kentucky, from a French chef from New Orleans who had developed a secret recipe for yeast-raised doughnuts.
1935: The partners move the operation to Nashville, Tennessee; their initial focus is selling doughnuts wholesale to grocery stores.
1937: Rudolph leaves Nashville to open his own doughnut shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, called Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; after first concentrating on wholesaling, the new operation soon begins retail operations in response to demand from the public.
Late 1950s:There are 29 Krispy Kreme shops in 12 states.
1973: Company founder Rudolph dies.