Krispy Kreme is marking Pokemon’s 30th anniversary with six new sweet treats that will debut Tuesday, Aug. 18, including doughnuts inspired by Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Jigglypuff, plus a Poké Ball Doughnut.
The launch gives fans a date to circle now: preorder access opens Aug. 13 for customers who want the doughnuts by the dozen, while the full collection will be available for a limited time in shops and for pickup or delivery through the chain’s app and website. Customers can also buy the doughnuts individually, and the set will come in a custom Pokémon Dozen box at participating shops and in a six-pack box in select retailers.
Chrissy Callahan, who covered the launch, framed the timing around the anniversary itself, and that is what makes this more than a novelty tie-in. The company is also introducing special-edition Pokémon cups in five exclusive Pokémon designs, each filled with 10 Original Glazed Gold Dots, extending the promotion beyond the doughnuts alone.
There is a catch, and it is built into the promotion: the free doughnut giveaway arrives later, on Saturday, Aug. 22, and only customers wearing Pokémon attire will get an Original Glazed Doughnut at participating shops, including the drive-thru. That keeps the campaign tightly limited, with the biggest reward reserved for people who show up on the right day and dressed for it.
The timing is deliberate. It comes three decades after kids first met Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, and after Pokémon trading cards debuted in the 1990s and grew into a much larger universe of cartoons, merchandise and more. For Krispy Kreme, the 30th anniversary gives the launch a clear hook; for fans, Aug. 18 is the first day the collection becomes real, and Aug. 22 is the day the freebie starts to matter.
