There's nothing better in the world than a hot, fresh Krispy Kreme Doughnut and apparently NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal agrees. Just days ago, the NBA Hall-of-Famer signed a deal with the iconic doughnut shop that includes making Shaq a global spokesperson of the company and the owner of its downtown Atlanta shop that's been open for half a century.
Krispy Kreme was purchased for $1.35 billion in May by JAB Beech, which also owns Keurig, Caribou, and Peet's coffees.
Shaq loves the delicious doughnuts that Krispy Kreme is known for, and he released a statement about the new deal, saying, "Our goal is to help people find their happy place, and what better way than with a box of delicious doughnuts."
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By accepting this new opportunity, the big man hopes to reconcile the largest investment mistake of his career, which occurred in the early 90s when he was offered a chance to be the only franchisee for Starbucks by CEO Howard Schultz.
"So I looked at the great Howard Schultz's face and said, 'Black people don't drink coffee, sir, I don't think it's gonna work," said Shaq. "And you should have seen the look on his face."
Schultz went on to give the deal to Magic Johnson, who made about $70 million when he sold 105 Starbucks franchises in 2010.
Shaq is no stranger to owning food franchises, having already owned numerous Five Guys and Auntie Anne's stores.
