Cold War Standardization
Krispy Kreme initiated an expansion program in 1946 that included producing the mix at a central plant in Winston-Salem to ensure consistency. In 1948 it opened the plant, which also produced equipment for the stores, and relocated its headquarters to the site (Ivy Avenue). During the 1950s mechanization brought an end to hand-cut doughnuts as the company gradually automated the entire doughnut-making process. By the end of the decade, 29 Krispy Kreme shops in 12 states each had the capacity to produce 500 dozen doughnuts per hour via specialized doughnut-making machines.