The Holy Donut is taking its Maine potato donuts on the road, with plans to start shipping the baked treats to customers nationwide in the next three months.
“We have been receiving requests for shipping for 12 years,” Jeff Buckwalter, co-owner and CEO of the Portland-based company, told Mainebiz. “We are at a place now where we have the ability to really focus on this project and make it a reality.”
“We also recognize that the national post-COVID trends reflect a strong demand for business-to-consumer services in the food space,” he added.
While the aim is to start shipping within the continental U.S. by Nov. 1, Buckwalter said that test shipments have been so positive “that we may be able to launch even sooner.”
The move comes a dozen years after the first Holy Donut store opened in Portland. Today, the family-owned business has five retail locations including two in Maine’s largest city and one each in Scarborough, Arundel and Brunswick.
At this time of year, Holy Donut employs around 120 people, according to Buckwalter.
Holy Donut is currently test-shipping to all regions of the country, with plans to ship to all of the lower 48 states.
In embarking on the new activity, Holy Donut will follow a host of other well-known Maine brands who ship around the U.S.
“Our local colleagues who already have ship have been very generous with their time and knowledge,” Buckwalter said. “We have visited Two Fat Cats, Cape Whoopies and Luke’s Lobster, and they have all been extremely helpful.”
As for how many donuts his company plans to ship, Buckwalter said that “we can project our expected volume but we won’t know for sure until we go live.”
Prices for the shipped items will be comparable to those in the stores, he said.
