Krispy Kreme and Shaquille O'neal - A Wonderful Combination

There are a lot of things that comes to mind when one hears the name, Shaquille O'Neal. Legendary, Hall-of-Famer, NBA Champion, movie superstar, sports analyst, and Krispy-Kreme store owner? The 4-time NBA Champion had recently been added to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.'s list of celebrity franchise owners last Monday, October 24th.

O'Neal has bought a downtown Atlanta Krispy Kreme shop, and has recently gained a new nickname: "The Big Doughnut". The said shop was located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Atlanta. The site has been a Krispy Kreme shop for more than 6 decades.

The news broke once O'Neal announced it on the social media network Twitter. He tweeted out the Krispy Kreme logo with the caption that says "Ur favorite doughnut just got even HOTTER, baby." The doughnut company is well known for its signature neon sign that says "hot doughnuts" representing fresh treats from the oven.

In addition to being a franchise owner, The Big Shaqtus also agreed to become one of the company's spokesman. This was discussed in private last July 27th in a $1.35 billion buyout by an affiliate of the JAB Holdings Inc., a German food company.

O'Neal had mentioned that he has been a fan of Krispy Kreme for all his life and shared his affection for the brand and company on different social media networks. The company Authentic Brands Group will also be a joint owner of the shop along with Shaq Inc.

O'Neal also said in a statement that, "Krispy Kreme prides itself on spreading joy and supporting local communities, and that's a cause that I am thrilled to be a part of."

Amongst other Krispy Kreme celebrity franchise owners are the late Dick Clark, one of the initial owners of the Krispy Kreme franchise in the United Kingdom, Jimmy Buffett franchise owner of a Krispy Kreme in West Palm Beach, and more.