“Krunchy Dream” is replacing Krispy Kreme Russia

• Krunchy Dream is a new chain of donut shops that has opened in Russia. This is where Krispy Kreme used to be.
• They are owned by Arkady Novikov, the Novikov Group’s sole former franchisee in Russia.
• Krispy Kreme had terminated the franchise agreement following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s donut chains are now thriving where Krispy Krisme once was. The country’s businesses are looking to replace Western brands by creating their own labels. 

The new donut shops — called Krunchy Dream — are operating under the Novikov Group. Arkady Novakov, who was Krispy Kreme’s former franchisee for Russia, Russia’s, is the owner of the group. RBCBusiness news outlet reported November 21. Per RBC, he applied to trademark the name in September.

One of the many international companies with cult-donut chains is pulled out of RussiaAfter Ukraine’s invasion earlier in the year. Krispy KremeIt stated that it had stopped imports of donut-making supplies into Russia in April and terminated its franchise agreement in the country with its sole partner.

Then, it went on to shutter all Russian Krispy Kreme shops. Krispy Kreme stated in its second-quarter earningsResults reveal that it had closed 30 franchises in Russia.

RBC was told by a Krunchy Dream employee that despite the new brand, the donuts were still the same. Insider sent requests for comment from outside of regular business hours to Krispy Kreme, the Novikov Group and they did not immediately respond.

It’s not Krispy Kreme. McDonald’sRussia also saw the rebranding of the brand.  “Vkusno & tochka” — which translates to “tasty and that’s it.”

The American fast-food giant exited the Russian market in May after 32 years in the country, citing“The humanitarian crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine and the precipitating unpredictable operating environments.” It then sold the Russian businessto the local businessman and licensee Alexander Govor.

Insider’s noticed that the McDonald’s restaurants have been rebranded with superficial changes to the logos, signs and uniforms of the Golden Arches. Mary Meisenzahl reported on June 15. Most of the items on this new menu are still made using ingredients and equipment that were used by the US fast-food chain. 

In Moscow, the brand also reopened ex-Starbucks coffee shops in August. “Stars Coffee.” All 130 Starbucks businesses in Russia were bought by Russian businessman Anton Pinskiy, Russian rapper Timur Yunusov— known as Timati — and Sindika Company.