Doughnut chain to expand in the UK - graduate jobs

Graduate students hunting for management jobs are in for a treat as doughnut chain Krispy Kreme is planning to double the number of its UK stores over the next five years.

The company, which produced over 50 million doughnuts for Britons in the year to January, hopes to open 10 stores a year.

Total stores are expected to double from 47 to nearly 100 by 2016.

Krispy Kreme, which initially came to the UK in October 2003 through a concession in Harrods department store, will be open for business in Leeds next month.

The expansion plans came as Krispy Kreme reported a 1.4% increase in like-for-like sales and total sales of £33.4 million, compared with £29.7 million the previous year.

The company opened six new stores in the UK in 2010, including Bristol, Cardiff and Liverpool, and 50 cabinets in Tesco.

Krispy Kreme makes doughnuts overnight in "factory stores", which are located in out-of-town centres. The sweet treats are then distributed to smaller shops in high foot-fall areas such as shopping centres and transport hubs.

Rob Hunt, joint managing director of Krispy Kreme UK, said: "We are excited about growing into new UK markets and are confident in our expansion plans."

Copyright Press Association 2011