How far would you drive for a doughnut? For one Minnesota student, the answer is 270 miles. This week, after a brief shutdown, that go-getter’s long-haul pastry-peddling is set to resume.
There have been no Krispy Kreme stores in Minnesota for 11 years. Some people saw that as a problem. But college student Jayson Gonzalez saw an opportunity.
Each weekend, Gonzalez drove to a Krispy Kreme store in Iowa. He packed his car with up to 100 boxes—each holding a dozen doughnuts. Then he drove back to Minneapolis-St. Paul to sell them for $17 to $20 per box.
The happy, doughnut-deprived citizens of the Twin Cities rejoiced. Some spent nearly $100 every week.
A local newspaper reported Gonzalez’s money-making scheme. Krispy Kreme execs were not amused. Gonzalez, “The Donut Guy,” received a phone call from Krispy Kreme’s Nebraska office. Officials told him to stop. They said his doughnut deliveries might cause problems for the company. (e.g., What if someone sued over quality or contamination?)
“We appreciate Jayson’s passion for Krispy Kreme and his entrepreneurial spirit as he pursues his education,” a statement from KK read.
Gonzalez took the shutdown in stride: “Life happens, and it could be a sign that something else is meant to be,” he posted on Facebook.
Apparently, that “something else” is a new partnership. On Monday, Krispy Kreme announced that Gonzalez may work with the company as an independent operator. The deal includes a 500-dozen doughnut donation from the company.
Gonzalez announced the deal on his Facebook page, saying he’s “pumped” to continue his business. He’s even begun a fundraising campaign to buy a bigger vehicle for his new venture. Let the doughnut runs continue!
What do you think about Jayson Gonzalez’s enterprising spirit?
(In this Saturday, October 26, photo, Jayson Gonzalez reaches into his car for another box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts for customers who ordered online. Deanna Weniger/Pioneer Press via AP)
