Company Directory - Krispy Kreme, Inc.
Company Details - Krispy Kreme, Inc.
Krispy Kreme, Inc.
Krispy Kreme is an American doughnut company and coffeehouse chain known for its signature glazed doughnuts.
CCI Score
CCI Score: Krispy Kreme, Inc.
-25.28
Latest Event
Krispy Kreme Minimal Political Finance Profile
An OpenSecrets profile shows that Krispy Kreme reported modest campaign contributions of $8,800 in the 2014 cycle and no recorded lobbying expenditures in 2013 or 2014, indicating minimal direct political engagement.
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ACCOMPLICE
Krispy Kreme, Inc. is currently rated as an Accomplice.
Latest Events
- FEB062025
An OpenSecrets profile shows that Krispy Kreme reported modest campaign contributions of $8,800 in the 2014 cycle and no recorded lobbying expenditures in 2013 or 2014, indicating minimal direct political engagement.
+20
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
June 18
Krispy Kreme’s low political finance figures—modest contributions of $8,800 and no lobbying—suggest a limited role in financing political activities. This absence of significant political spending reduces the risk of complicity in far‐right or authoritarian agendas, yielding a mildly positive score under Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts.
- AUG242023
On August 24, 2023, Krispy Kreme faced backlash after one of its advertising campaigns inadvertently included a racial slur. The company issued an apology, removed the offending ad, and acknowledged the oversight, although the incident has been widely criticized by anti-racism activists.
-50
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
June 18
The incident reflects a significant lapse in ethical standards, as the inadvertent use of a racial slur in an ad campaign undermines efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. Although the company apologized and removed the ad, the damage from propagating racist content is considerable, affecting public trust and signaling a need for stricter oversight in corporate communications.
Krispy Kreme issues apology after accidentally showing offensive word in new ad
- AUG222023
Krispy Kreme faced backlash after an ad campaign accidentally featured a racial slur in its creative content. The company apologized, stating that it never intended to offend any group, and removed the problematic ads following criticism from community activists and anti-racism campaigners.
-60
Public and Political Behavior
June 18
The incident involved a misprinted ad which inadvertently included a highly offensive racial slur, demonstrating a lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity towards marginalized communities. Although Krispy Kreme apologized and removed the ad, the initial error reflects a significant misstep in addressing diversity and inclusion, which is critical in opposing authoritarian and fascist ideologies.
Krispy Kreme apologizes for accidentally showing slur in new ad campaign
-50
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
June 18
The use of a racial slur in the advertisement reflects a lapse in ethical advertising practices and oversight, undermining efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. While the company’s prompt apology and removal of the ad mitigated further harm, the initial error contributes negatively in the context of corporate responsibility and ethical business practices.
Krispy Kreme apologizes for accidentally showing slur in new ad campaign
- NOV182022
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. settled for approximately $1.19M in back wages and damages to 516 workers over allegations of systemic overtime violations found by the U.S. Department of Labor.
-70
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
June 18
The settlement over wage and hour violations indicates problematic labor practices and exploitation of workers, which conflicts with fair labor rights and equitable treatment. This negative action highlights systemic issues in labor relations, harming the company's ethical responsibilities towards its workforce.
- NOV182022
Krispy Kreme agreed to pay nearly $1.2 million in back wages and damages to 516 workers to settle findings of widespread overtime pay miscalculations, where bonuses were improperly excluded from pay rate calculations.
-50
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
June 18
Krispy Kreme's failure to correctly calculate overtime by excluding bonuses over several years adversely affected hundreds of workers, illustrating problematic labor practices. Although the company settled by paying $1.2M to compensate affected employees, the incident highlights systemic issues in worker treatment, undermining ethical labor standards.
- NOV172022
Krispy Kreme, Inc. has agreed to pay over $1.1 million to 516 workers following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that found systemic overtime violations at its 242 US locations.
-60
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
June 18
The settlement comes in response to systemic overtime violations uncovered by the U.S. Department of Labor. This indicates significant lapses in labor rights protections and fair wage practices, undermining the rights of workers. While the penalty compensates affected employees, it highlights a concerning disregard for ethical labor standards.
- JAN012014
OpenSecrets data indicates that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts did not report any federal lobbying activities during the 2014 election cycle, suggesting a non-engagement in political lobbying that could have been used to influence policy in an authoritarian direction.
+30
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
June 18
By not engaging in federal lobbying during the 2014 cycle, Krispy Kreme avoids contributing to political influence that may favor authoritarian or fascist agendas. This absence of reported lobbying is seen as a positive anti-fascist signal in the realm of political contributions and lobbying efforts.
- DEC152009
A fundraiser event, held last December, featured Krispy Kreme Doughnuts alongside other branded foods and came under scrutiny by the Office of Congressional Ethics. While Krispy Kreme’s role was limited to its product being featured on the invitation, the event raised concerns about corporate complicity in political fundraising practices that may indirectly support lobbying efforts.
-20
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
June 18
The event, which featured Krispy Kreme Doughnuts as part of its offerings, is part of a series of politically charged fundraisers that attracted ethical scrutiny. Although Krispy Kreme's involvement appears passive—limited to having its product served—the association with such events can be interpreted as tacit support for questionable political fundraising and lobbying practices. This raises concerns about indirectly contributing to corporate-political entanglements that may undermine democratic processes.
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Industries
- 311811
- Retail Bakeries
- 311812
- Commercial Bakeries
- 722515
- Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars