Customer stories


Krispy Kreme (L&L Enterprises)

Regional operator of famous Krispy Kreme doughnut shops depends on FileMaker Pro 7 databases in vital support functions.

Bringing the famous flavor of fresh, hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts to eager retail consumers in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Montana, and to wholesale customers in Wyoming, L & L Enterprises opened its first shop in Las Vegas in 1998 – and now oversees a network of stores already grown to a bakers’ dozen. At L & L headquarters, FileMaker Pro 7 databases aid in the support functions necessary to keep the business running and the doughnuts cooking.


Business Challenge

Every day, Krispy Kreme shops around the world produce 7.5 million doughnuts – served hot and fresh to eager consumers. There are over 400 shops in the Krispy Kreme chain, many operated by regional franchisees like L&L Enterprises. L&L founder Lincoln Spoor took his first delicious bite of a Krispy Kreme in 1992, and, after years of lobbying, he convinced the chain’s national office in North Carolina to allow him to bring the brand to his own home territory. Opening day for the first shop set a new chain-wide record, with over 70,000 doughnuts sold, and that proved a harbinger of growth to come. Now operating 13 Krispy Kreme stores, L&L Enterprises is spreading out strong from its original Nevada-Utah base into surrounding states.

A growing company depends on efficiency in operation, and IT director Michael Kane counts on the power of a reliable intranet for exchange of essential information between the stores and company headquarters. “We currently have 5 dedicated SQL servers,” he explains, “and we needed additional databases that were easy to write, easily deployed over our intranet, and easy to interface with our other databases.” Having used FileMaker Pro for over a decade on his own, Michael knew where to turn for the application that fit the bill.


Successful Solution

Michael’s system incorporates 19 FileMaker Pro databases, containing from 10 to 10,000 records each, and serving a variety of vital functions. One database allows centralized documentation of daily bank deposits from each store, with data imported from the bank and matched against figures entered from the stores, thus allowing fast and easy daily reconciliations. Another database allows stores to submit information supplied by customers for direct-mail campaigns, using a direct web interface to transmit the data from local collection points to the main database at the central office.

Payroll functions also take advantage of FileMaker Pro convenience. Information from the payroll processing company is downloaded and imported into FileMaker Pro in CSV file format, where it then ensures that individual employee records are kept fully up to date. Executive travel is arranged through an interactive FileMaker Pro system - employees enter their travel plans via the FileMaker Pro web interface, allowing the company travel coordinator to easily fill in the itinerary details and email a direct response to the employee filing the request. This system greatly streamlines the travel planning process, and ensures that both the employee and the central office are operating at all times from the same page.

FileMaker Pro Server and Advanced Server are important components in this system, and ODBC connections serve to simplify the exchange of information between databases.


Customer Benefits

Just as L&L Enterprises and the Krispy Kreme brand continue their impressive growth, FileMaker Pro grows to meet the demand for accessible, easily developed data management power. The recent upgrade to FileMaker Pro 7 enhances the abilities of the system, and Michael finds himself increasingly impressed with the security abilities of the new version. “The links to the active directory for usernames and external authentication offers reasons alone to upgrade," he says. "I’d made a solution allowing similar functions for multiple users using a ‘password’ separate file – but with FileMaker Pro 7, that can be discarded.”

FileMaker Pro 7’s upgraded relational capabilities mean improved efficiency as the system expands to suit growing needs, especially the ability to create multiple tables within a single database file. “We’d run into the 125-table limit,” Michael notes, “but we can now overcome that by combining multiple related files into one. The relationship screen makes it easy to understand visually.”

Using FileMaker Server 7 Advanced  allows remote users to update database information with the ease of a web browser. “We’re also using our externally-hosted website to link to a page on the FileMaker Pro server to allow customers to enter data into the database without having to retype information from email requests,” adds Michael.

All these improvements mean greater ease of use, smoother operation, and a streamlined user experience – simplifying a whole range of essential tasks within the company. As more and more consumers discover the Krispy Kreme experience, and L&L Enterprises grows and prospers, FileMaker Pro stands ready to rise to the occasion.


“The links to the active directory for usernames and external authentication offers reasons alone to upgrade. I’d made a solution allowing similar functions for multiple users using a ‘password’ separate file – but with FileMaker Pro 7, that can be discarded.”

Michael Kane, IT Director, L&L Enterprises/Krispy Kreme Doughnuts



Contact information

Contact Info for Customer:

Michael Kane
IT Director
L&L Enterprises/Krispy Kreme
702-614-3800
michael@krispykremes.com
http://www.krispykremes.com


Filemaker Contact:

Kevin Mallon
Public Relations Manager
FileMaker Inc.
408-987-7227
kevin_mallon@filemaker.com
http://www.filemaker.com


Overview
  • Operates Krispy Kreme doughnut shops in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Montana, and distributes wholesale doughnuts in Wyoming.
  • Based in Las Vegas, NV
  • Approximately 500 employees
Industry
  • Retail/Wholesale
Solutions
  • FileMaker Pro 7 databases store and manage information on payroll, store direct-mail and bank deposit data, and corporate travel.