After Covid and the first PE sell out (and inflation which has occurred across the donut market), prices crept up (>$1.25 per donut) and quality went down (smaller meat/more bread in ‘kolaches’, less filling and icing on donuts, jelly donuts seem smaller). They used to send out email coupons and birthday rewards, then they introduced an app where the rewards get sent. “Oh nice, maybe it adds convenience like other restaurants’ apps!?” Nope, their app blows. It’s like finding your specific Shipleys location is dealing with a subcontractor and they charge you a fee to use the app. “Free glazed donut for your birthday” (less a $2.50 convenience fee). And they still haven’t figured out how to make decent regular coffee. I’m certain this new PE owner will accelerate the enshitening.
That being said, Shipleys glazed are still the gold standard. How the fuck do Southern Maid franchises stay in business? Their donuts are more stale and worse tasting than trucked in Dunkin Donuts, and their kolaches are $5 each.