Though it still has a family-run feel to it, Krispy Kreme is no longer family-owned. After its founder died in the 1970s, the doughnut brand was bought by Beatrice Foods Company in 1976, which also produced the Meadow Gold, Clark Bar, Milk Duds and Dannon Yogurt brands. Not long after, however, a group of early franchisees bought it back. From 2016 to 2021, Krispy Kreme was a public company owned by German corporation JAB Holdings. It's now publicly traded, listed on Nasdaq since July 2021.