On March 22 2021, a number of outlets reported that Krispy Kreme was supporting the drive to vaccinate Americans against COVID-19 with an interesting promotion — one free donut per vaccinated person per day in 2021.
On that date, a WAGA-TV article read:
Krispy Kreme offering free doughnut a day to anyone with COVID-19 vaccination for rest of 2021
Krispy Kreme is offering Americans a sweet incentive to get a COVID-19 vaccine by giving a free doughnut to anyone who shows proof of vaccination — and inoculated customers can keep going back every single day for the rest of the year [2021].
The company announced [on March 22 2021] that anyone who shows a valid COVID-19 vaccination card will get a free Original Glazed doughnut at participating Krispy Kreme locations nationwide for the remainder of 2021.
CBS News also covered the news:
Krispy Kreme will you give you a free doughnut every day this year [2021] — if you’ve been vaccinated
In case you needed another reason to get your COVID-19 vaccination, Krispy Kreme is sweetening the deal — it’s giving free doughnuts to anyone with proof of vaccination, all year long [in 2021].
Starting [March 22 2021], any customer with a valid COVID-19 vaccination card will receive a free Original Glazed doughnut at participating locations nationwide. The iconic doughnut shop specifies that any guests who have received at least one of the two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine qualify for the promotion.
All you need to show is your vaccination card to redeem your doughnut — a vaccine sticker is not valid.
At a tweet just before 10 AM on March 22 2021, Krispy Kreme (@KrispyKreme) announced the new promotion:
However, that tweet didn’t mention a free donut each day for all of 2021; it read:
We’d like to show sweet support to those who have received the COVID-19 Vaccine. Starting today, bring your Vaccine Card to a Krispy Kreme shop and get 1 FREE Original Glazed doughnut. No chance to get your Vaccine? This will run thru end of 2021. Info at [link]
A link in the tweet led to a page explaining free donuts were on the table (but not daily):
As the U.S. continues to scale COVID-19 vaccinations, Krispy Kreme wanted to find a way to show our support for those who are protecting themselves and other by getting vaccinated. Starting Monday, 3/22 [2021], anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card will receive a free Original Glazed® doughnut.
A separate page (krispykreme.com/promos/vaccineoffer) of FAQs provided information about proof of vaccination and other queries. A section was titled “WHAT IS THE LIMIT FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINATION OFFER?”, and the answer was:
Each individual guest who requests the COVID-19 offer will be limited to one (1) Original Glazed® doughnut per day, no purchased [sic] required.
Moreover, small text on the landing page (at the bottom) read:
Covid-19 Vaccine Offer valid through 12/31/2021 at participating U.S. Krispy Kreme shops with Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card and is subject to product availability. Not valid in Puerto Rico. Offer excludes Mini Doughnuts. Limit 1 redemption per guest per day. Not valid with any other offer or coupon. Not valid for online ordering. Void if altered, copied, sold, purchased, transferred, exchanged, taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. Not redeemable at grocery or convenience stores. Customer pays any sales tax. ©2021 Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp.
It was fairly easy to verify Krispy Kreme was giving out free donuts to people who received at least one vaccination, but most news organizations led with the “per day in 2021” aspect — which wasn’t in the tweet or on the landing page’s primary sections. In the fine print and in the FAQ, Krispy Kreme verified tha the program did indeed offer a free glazed donut each day in 2021.
- Krispy Kreme offering free doughnut a day to anyone with COVID-19 vaccination for rest of 2021
- Krispy Kreme will you give you a free doughnut every day this year — if you've been vaccinated
- We'd like to show sweet support to those who have received the COVID-19 Vaccine. Starting today, bring your Vaccine Card to a Krispy Kreme shop and get 1 FREE Original Glazed doughnut. No chance to get your Vaccine? This will run thru end of 2021. Info at https://bit.ly/3141hMi
- Free Krispy Kreme Donut Every Day | "LET’S BE SWEET FOR OUR COMMUNITIES"
- krispykreme.com | vaccineoffer