Two eager doughnut fans queued for three hours to be the first customers of Krispy Kreme in Ipswich.
The ribbon was cut at the stand, which is in the shape of a doughnut box, on the ground floor of the Buttermarket Centre this morning.
Krispy Kreme is the latest food chain to join the revamped leisure mall, which is set to bring more fresh names to the town in the coming months.
Sweet-toothed University of Suffolk students Beth Seddon and Bethany Thwaites arrived at 7am and waited outside in the rain until the centre opened.
As the first person in line, Beth, 18, won a Krispy Kreme gold card, which entitles her to two dozen free doughnuts every month for a year.
She said: “It’s a fantastic feeling to be the first in line and to get my hands on a Krispy Kreme Gold Card – I’ll be sharing my dozens with my family and friends.”
Bethany, 21, added: “I think we are just a bit crazy. We were sitting outside in the rain for quite a bit.”
Krispy Kreme operations manager Ricky Turner said the branch had recruited seven new employees from the Ipswich area, with more than 50 people applying for a position.
He said: “We expect it to do well.
“I think on opening day alone it should sell around 2,000 doughnuts.”
He added: “We have had well over 100,000 hits on social media.
“Everyone is looking for a little sweet treat and we are very happy to be in the market.”
This is the first dedicated Krispy Kreme shop in Ipswich, joining stands in some Tesco stores.
Krispy Kreme is now the eighth eatery to open at the Buttermarket Centre, sitting alongside Prezzo, Cosy Club, Wagamama, Coast to Coast, Byron Burger, Jacey’s Coffee House and Vodka Revolution.
It has also been revealed that a new 12-screen Empire Cinema will launch at the end of March on the first floor of the centre, where there is a Pure Gym.
There are still four empty units in the mall, which are expected to be filled by this summer.
Nadine Weatherley, assistant manager of the Buttermarket, today hinted that the fresh occupiers would be brands not currently on offer in the town.
She said: “We are looking forward to welcoming some other new names into Ipswich.”
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