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Krispy Kreme, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 2 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 38.0 percent: Adjusted EBITDA rose 38.0% to $33.1 million and margin reached 9.0% from 6.4%. Management cited productivity initiatives, SG&A savings and removal of McDonald's USA costs. Source
  • U.S. profit margin improved: U.S. revenue fell 6.3% to $221.6 million on door closures. U.S. adjusted EBITDA rose 60.6% to $25.5 million, and margin rose 480 basis points to 11.5%. Source
  • Strategic partner doors added: Global points of access fell to 15,125 from 17,982 after closures. The company added 276 U.S. doors with strategic partners in the quarter, on top of 200 added in Q4 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow was $20.2 million and free cash flow was $11.4 million. A year earlier, free cash flow was negative $46.7 million. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 5.5x: Net leverage fell to 5.5x from 6.7x at fiscal 2025 year-end. Net debt was $816.7 million, compared with $938.3 million at year-end. Source
  • Western U.S. joint venture cut: The Western U.S. joint venture stake was reduced to 20%. Total consideration is about $90 million, including $53 million in cash received at closing on March 23, 2026. Source
  • Turnaround plan four pillars: Management described the turnaround plan as designed to deleverage the balance sheet and deliver sustainable, profitable growth across refranchising, capital use, margins and U.S. growth. Source

“The first quarter highlighted significant progress across every pillar of our turnaround plan.”

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue Sourcefiscal 2026$1.25 billion to $1.35 billionNew
Systemwide sales growth Sourcefiscal 2026up 2% to 4%Kept
Shop openings Sourcefiscal 2026at least 100 shopsKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$140 million to $150 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$50 million to $60 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026more than $15 millionRaised from Positive free cash flow
Net leverage ratio Sourcefiscal 2026 year-endbelow 5.5xLowered from at or below 5.5x
Franchisee share of systemwide sales Sourcebeginning fiscal 2027nearly 50%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year net revenue range of $1.25 billion to $1.35 billion was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year adjusted EBITDA range of $140 million to $150 million was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow guidance changed from positive free cash flow in the prior release to more than $15 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net leverage target was reworded from at or below 5.5x to below 5.5x. Source
  • New: The Japan operations sale to Unison Capital closed on March 2, 2026, after being agreed in the prior release. Source
  • New: The Western U.S. joint venture was reduced to a 20% minority stake, with the franchisee owning more than 70 shops. Source
  • New: U.S. logistics outsourcing was completed in April 2026, after being accelerated. Source
  • New: A franchise agreement to enter the Netherlands was signed, with the expansion dated to late 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell on closed doors: Net revenue fell 2.2% to $367.0 million. Organic revenue fell 2.6%, mainly from a 15.9% drop in global points of access, including about 2,400 McDonald's USA doors closed in 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 38.0 percent: Adjusted EBITDA rose 38.0% to $33.1 million and margin reached 9.0% from 6.4%. Management cited productivity initiatives, SG&A savings and removal of McDonald's USA costs. Source
  • GAAP net loss narrowed: GAAP net loss was $22.7 million against $33.4 million a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $0.16 against $0.22. Adjusted EPS was $(0.05), unchanged year over year. Source
  • Systemwide sales up 0.7 percent: Systemwide sales were $485.3 million, down 1.0% in constant currency. Excluding McDonald's USA doors in the year-ago period, they rose 0.7%. Source
  • Holiday gifting demand cited: Management cited consumer demand during Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day as evidence that the brand remains a top choice for gifting and celebrating. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. profit margin improved: U.S. revenue fell 6.3% to $221.6 million on door closures. U.S. adjusted EBITDA rose 60.6% to $25.5 million, and margin rose 480 basis points to 11.5%. Source
  • International growth led by Canada and Mexico: International revenue rose 4.7% to $125.3 million, including a $10.5 million currency benefit. Organic growth was 0.4%, mainly from Canada and Mexico. Source
  • International profit fell on Japan: International adjusted EBITDA fell 2.9% to $14.5 million because of the Japan refranchising. Margin fell 90 basis points to 11.6% on lower results in Australia and Canada. Source
  • Market Development revenue rose: Market Development revenue rose 6.4% to $20.2 million including refranchising. Organic revenue fell 4.3% on equipment sale timing. Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.3% to $11.6 million. Source

“We expect this momentum to continue through 2026, driven by profitable growth in the U.S. with key strategic partners, higher digital sales, and international expansion.”

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth

Doors, shops and digital reach

  • Strategic partner doors added: Global points of access fell to 15,125 from 17,982 after closures. The company added 276 U.S. doors with strategic partners in the quarter, on top of 200 added in Q4 2025. Source
  • U.S. revenue per door rose: Average U.S. revenue per door per week rose 16.7% year over year to $685 and 3.8% sequentially. The company cited higher-volume partner doors and exit of lower-volume doors. Source
  • Shops opened, nearly all franchised: The company opened 26 shops in the quarter, nearly all franchised. Trailing four-quarter sales per hub were $5.1 million in the U.S. and $9.9 million in International. Source
  • Digital share of retail rose: Digital sales were 18.9% of retail sales, up 200 basis points from 16.9% a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and one-off items

  • Operating expenses fell year over year: Operating expenses were $188.1 million against $198.8 million. SG&A was $58.0 million against $59.4 million. Product and distribution costs were $88.3 million against $90.7 million. Source
  • Logistics and refranchising costs: Strategic initiative costs were $7.2 million. Of that, $4.2 million related to refranchising and $2.9 million to the U.S. third-party logistics transition, of which $1.6 million was non-cash impairment. Source
  • Market Development margin declined: Market Development adjusted EBITDA margin fell 60 basis points to 57.5%, driven by changes in the regional mix of product sales. Source
  • Gain on refranchising recorded: The company recorded an $8.9 million gain on refranchising. It is excluded from adjusted EBITDA. Other expenses, net were $0.8 million. Source

“We also closed two refranchising transactions, expanded access to our fresh doughnuts in the U.S. quarter-over-quarter, and accelerated the outsourcing of U.S. logistics, which is now complete.”

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth

Cash flow, debt and liquidity

  • Free cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow was $20.2 million and free cash flow was $11.4 million. A year earlier, free cash flow was negative $46.7 million. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 5.5x: Net leverage fell to 5.5x from 6.7x at fiscal 2025 year-end. Net debt was $816.7 million, compared with $938.3 million at year-end. Source
  • Liquidity and covenant compliance: Total liquidity was $303 million, including $74 million of cash and $229 million of undrawn credit capacity. The company was in compliance with all financial covenants. Source
  • Capital expenditures fell 66 percent: Capital expenditures were $8.8 million, or 2.4% of net revenue, mostly in the U.S. for infrastructure repairs. The company has reduced investment in building new hubs. Source
  • Refranchising proceeds repaid debt: The Japan closing brought approximately $70 million in cash. Proceeds were used for debt paydown after fees and expenses. Source

Refranchising and turnaround plan

  • Western U.S. joint venture cut: The Western U.S. joint venture stake was reduced to 20%. Total consideration is about $90 million, including $53 million in cash received at closing on March 23, 2026. Source
  • Remaining joint venture consideration deferred: After fees, cash proceeds reduced net debt. The remaining joint venture consideration is structured as a note payable over time. The franchisee plans to expand fresh delivery over several years. Source
  • Franchisee share of sales: About 25% of fiscal 2025 systemwide sales came from franchise-operated locations. Management expects nearly 50% from franchisees beginning fiscal 2027. Source
  • Turnaround plan four pillars: Management described the turnaround plan as designed to deleverage the balance sheet and deliver sustainable, profitable growth across refranchising, capital use, margins and U.S. growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Netherlands franchise launch: The franchise agreement to expand into the Netherlands is dated to open in late 2026. Source
  • More international refranchising deals: Management expects one to two additional international refranchising deals in 2026, with partners chosen to maximize value. Source
  • Joint venture note payable: The remaining Western U.S. joint venture consideration is to be paid over time through a note payable. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales SourceSystemwide sales up 0.7% in constant currency, excluding McDonald's USA doors
Inventory Source$27.2 million at March 29, 2026
Store openings Source26 shops opened in the quarter
E-commerce share Source18.9% of retail sales (digital)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net leverage remains high at 5.5x, with total long-term debt of $888.4 million at quarter end. Source
  • Operational: The U.S. logistics transition carried $2.9 million of costs, of which $1.6 million was non-cash impairment. Source
  • Demand: U.S. revenue fell on strategic door closures, which also reduced organic U.S. revenue by 4.0%. Source
  • Regulatory: The company recorded $0.8 million of legal fees for shareholder derivative litigation in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the outsourcing was accelerated and is now complete. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release projected a Q1 2026 closing with about $65 million in proceeds. The Japan sale closed March 2, 2026 with about $70 million.
  • Not stated: The earlier restructuring plan for the Western U.S. joint venture was described as previously disclosed, and the closing is now reported. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.