Krispy Kreme's Pokemon doughnuts go on sale on August 18
Krispy Kreme launches a limited-time Pokemon Doughnut Collection on August 18, with six doughnuts based on Pikachu, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Jigglypuff and a Poke Ball. Pre-orders are already open.
Krispy Kreme starts selling a Pokemon Doughnut Collection on August 18. It is a limited-time run, and it covers five Pokemon plus a Poke Ball.
Pre-orders are already open. Dexerto reports that some customers have spent more than $50 in one go, which tells you roughly how this is going to look on launch day.
What is in the collection
| Doughnut | What it is |
|---|---|
| Pikachu | Filled with lemon creme, topped with an "electrifying drizzle" and a Pikachu piece |
| Charmander | Filled with chocolate and toasted marshmallow |
| Bulbasaur | Original glazed, decorated |
| Squirtle | Original glazed, decorated |
| Jigglypuff | Original glazed, decorated |
| Poke Ball | Original glazed, decorated |
GameSpot's report describes the two filled doughnuts in detail and lists the rest as original glazed doughnuts done up as those characters. No official price has been announced for any of them, and neither report we have says which countries or which stores are taking part. Check your local shop before you drive anywhere.
Why the pre-order part is the news
Chain restaurants usually do not let you reserve a doughnut. You turn up, and either it is there or it is not.
Letting people pre-order changes the shape of the day. It means the first batch is partly spoken for before the doors open, and it means the people who care most are not standing in a queue at 7am hoping. If you want these, the pre-order is the low-effort route.
It also hints at what Krispy Kreme expects. You do not build a reservation system for an item you think will sit in the case until lunchtime.
What this is really about
The Pokemon Company is midway through a very busy year. The franchise turns 30 this September, the 30th Celebration card set arrives worldwide on September 16, and the brand has been showing up well outside games and cards.
Food tie-ins are the cheapest possible way to reach people who will never buy a booster box. A kid who does not play the card game still knows what a Pikachu looks like on a doughnut. Expect more of this between now and the anniversary.
Buying advice, such as it is
Three plain points if you plan to take part:
- Limited time means limited time. These runs usually last weeks, not months, and no end date has been announced. Do not assume it will still be there in September.
- Do not buy to resell. Food is not a collectible. The box and the packaging might last, the doughnut will not.
- Pre-order if you want a specific one. The two filled doughnuts, Pikachu and Charmander, are the ones most likely to run out first, because they are the two that are actually different rather than a decorated glazed.
We will add a price here if an official one is published.