THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
A doughnut or donut is a type of fried dough confectionery or dessert food. The doughnut is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets. Doughnuts have a disputed history. One theory suggests they were invented in North America by Dutch settlers, who were responsible for popularizing other American desserts, including cookies, apple and cream pie, and cobbler. Indeed, in the 19th century, doughnuts were sometimes referred to as one kind of oliekoek (a Dutch word literally meaning "oil cake"), a "sweetened cake fried in fat."
Comprehensive review of recent dessert statistics, tracking consumer buying habits, home baking statistics and demographics. After meals, 70% of consumers eat dessert at least once a week, with 36% twice or more; mid-evening snack (54%), afternoon (42%), late at night (40%), mid-morning (33%). According to the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery report "What's in Store?" - 2011 instore sales reached $10.2 billion, a 2.2% increase - with the most popular products including: cookies (84%), doughnuts (80%), special occasion cakes (79%), Danish/pastries (72%), muffins (71%), pies (68%), brownies (61%), and cupcakes (59%). Supermarket center aisle sales include: cookies ($3.7 billion), pastries/doughnut ($1.7 billion), baking mixes ($1.1 billion), and prepared pies and cakes ($1 billion). ("Digging into Desserts," in Food Technology, November 2011 (Vol. 65, No. 11), p. 17)
Krispy Kreme is an international doughnut and coffee brand that is best known for its Original Glazed Doughnuts and Signature Coffee. The brand is present in more than 20 countries worldwide including the United States, Australia, Korea and the Philippines. Vernon Rudolph bought a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a New Orleans French chef, rented a building in what is now