Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. is an American global doughnut company and coffeehouse chain based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Krispy Kreme founder Vernon Rudolph bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, and in 1937 rented a building in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, and began selling to local grocery stores.Products are sold in Krispy Kreme stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, Walmart, Target and Shaw's stores in the United States.