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DOUGHNUT-LOVERS queued up for hours to celebrate the opening of Bahrain's latest lip-smacking cake and pastry outlet.
Celebrated American doughnut specialists Krispy Kreme offered the first 25 customers free doughnuts for a year and the next 25 customers who waited patiently at Seef Mall received free doughnuts for six months.
But can the new kid on the block lure customers away from more established rivals in the kingdom such as House of Donuts and Hol-n-One?
The only answer was a taste test and who better to sample the treats than a hungry teenager?
Schoolboy Michael Feeney, 14, from Isa Town, a Year 10 student at St Christopher's School, offered to put his taste-buds to the task when GulfWeekly delivered samples from three of the island's top doughnut destinations.
And his verdict ... Krispy Kreme licked the opposition ... just.
He said: "Krispy Kreme is my new favourite food ever! It is definitely the best doughnut I have ever had in my whole life!"
Michael tried out three different varieties, namely the custard filled, glazed and a chocolate doughnuts from the House of Donuts on Exhibition Road, Manama, Hol-n-One in Adliya alongside Krispy Kreme.
He said: "Hol-n-One had the best custard doughnut of all the three. It was soft and really sweet. The glazed one appeared grainy but it had a good flavour.
"The chocolate variety had a strange smoky taste on the first bite. It was also very doughy and heavy. I also felt that there wasn't enough chocolate on the top.
"The chocolate doughnut from the House of Donuts had the best chocolate topping of the three - the dark chocolate was very good.
"I didn't like the glazed one much as it was lumpy and it didn't taste much like a doughnut. But as a whole, Krispy Kreme had the best chocolate and glazed varieties - the ultimate taste! The softness of its doughnuts is the best thing."
Jose Luis Vaquer, 28, senior marketing specialist of Americana - the Bahrain franchise holders for Krispy Kreme, said: "As soon as we started our pre-launch campaign people have been anticipating our opening. It's an American brand so the name has been circulating around for some time.
"At the moment we have 15 different varieties and since the opening we have found that the original glazed doughnut has been the best selling item - it is also our main product.
"I feel the secret ingredient lies in its dough which is a special mixture that gives the doughnut a five-day life span."
Hol-n-One manager Alind Kumar Singh, 32, from Gudaibya, reckons the company's chocolate specialty remains a firm favourite. He said: "We have about 45 varieties and the chocolate one in particular has been very popular with our regular customers ever since its launch in 1986."
Merilyn Delesela, 41, sales head of House of Donuts, said: "We serve alongside doughnuts, croissants and muffins and our customers mostly come by to take away their bag of goodies."
WHO'S COOKING
KRISPY KREME has headquarters in North Carolina, US. It was founded in 1937 when Vernon Rudolph bought a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a French chef from New Orleans. Krispy Kreme today can be found in nearly 450 locations across the world.
Hol-n-One uses American technology and has been in the island since 1986. The chain has 24 outlets in Bahrain and six 6 branches in Qatar. A company spokesman said: "Keeping abreast with the growing needs of the consuming public, sales vans are mobilised around specific areas in the kingdom to cater to the demand of the consuming public."
House of Donuts International was founded in California in 1979 and now boasts more than 200 outlets in several countries.
A company spokesman said: "We decided to branch out to the Middle East - it was an instant success. Our business became the undisputable landmark for donuts and pastries in the region. Baking around the clock, cutting and preparing all by hand is our family tradition."
