WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said that it is realigning its franchise and company stores operations. The changes will primarily affect the Krispy Kreme Support Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. As part of the changes, Jeff Welch and Steve Lineberger, current members of the company's executive team, will take on expanded responsibilities in the franchise and company stores business segments.
Welch will become the senior vice president and general manager of global franchise operations and development. Welch has more than 25 years experience [image-nocss] with public companies, and has successfully led Krispy Kreme's international franchise expansion into ten countries. He is a former vice president of franchising and business development for what is now Yum! Brands Inc. and has extensive real estate development experience, having also served as the vice president of international real estate with The Home Depot.
Lineberger will become the senior vice president and general manager of U.S. company operations. With more than 20 years experience leading major business units in marketing, merchandising and sales, Lineberger has been heading Krispy Kreme's growth initiative, including new product development and innovation, as well as refining the company's small retail concept. He is a former division chief executive with Sara Lee, and while there, led fully vertical and highly integrated manufacturing and supply chain operations across numerous facilities and multiple countries.
Also, Jeff Jervik, executive vice president of operations, has decided to leave Krispy Kreme to return to his private business interests, effective Sept. 1, 2007.
Jeff Welch and Steve Lineberger have track records of extraordinary leadership that will help us continue our international growth and build on the strength of our southeastern roots, while restructuring the rest of our U.S. operations, said Daryl Brewster, CEO and president of Krispy Kreme. These changes will result in a more responsive, leaner and focused field structure that we expect will help us drive same store sales, improve unit economics and reduce system costs.
Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, Krispy Kreme is a leading branded specialty retailer of doughnuts, including its signature Hot Original Glazed. There are currently approximately 411 Krispy Kreme stores including satellites operating systemwide in 41 U.S. states, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, the Philippines, the Republic of South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
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