Holding a press conference at Lotte Hotel Tuesday, Lotte disclosed, “We made a business contract with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and are to open the first shop in Shinchon, Seoul next month.” Executive Officer Kim Moo-hong of Lotte Shopping’s Krispy Kreme Doughnuts business stated, “We will open more than 25 directly managed branches in the next five years.”

At the Shinchon branch, which is scheduled to open next year, 15 kinds of donuts like the Original Glazed donut will be on sale with various sorts of beverages, including coffee. Through a glass window, the store reveals the donut manufacturing process to the customers. Reflecting the recent "well-being" fever, the company plans to serve sugar free donuts and low calorie donuts from next year.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts was established in Winston-Salem, North Carolina back in 1937. It is a donut-exclusive manufacturer that produces approximately 2.7 billion donuts per a year, with an average of 750,000 per day. The most famous item, the Original Glazed, which is distinguished by its freshness from the oven and soft and sweet taste, has secured tens of thousands of fans in the U.S. and Europe. Initiating its advance into the global market from the 1990s, the company runs about 400 stores in five different countries, the U.K., Canada, Australia, and Mexico.

“Judging that the growth rate of the Korean market was great, Korea is the first Asian nation we've entered,” said an marketing manager at the headquarters of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. He added, “With the Korean market as a foothold, we’re planning to make inroads into the whole Asian region.” It is assumed 80 to 90 percent of the W50 billion worth Korean donut market is occupied by Dunkin Donuts.

(Kim Sung-yoon, gourmet@chosun.com )