Owners Of Krispy Kreme, Panera, And More Donated $11 Million Because Of Their Nazi Past

Listen, it would take a lot for us to look at Krispy Kreme and Panera Bread in a negative light. However, new revelations about their owners’ past has tainted our once-unconditional love for these two brands. The Reimann family, who own controlling shares in Krispy Kreme, Panera, Dr. Pepper, Peet’s Coffee, Caribou Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Keurig, Pret-A-Manger, Insomnia Cookies, and others, just donated $11 million to an undisclosed charity in an effort to clean up their Nazi past.

Yes, that’s right — Krispy Kreme was once controlled by Nazis.

And it gets worse. Both Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr., who headed these brands’ parent company JAB Holding, used Eastern European and Russian civilians and French prisoners of war as forced laborers at their factories during World War II.

According to the Associated Press, Peter Harf, a spokesperson and managing partner of JAB Holding, confirmed that a recent four-page report published by the German newspaper Bild, which outlined the Reimann’s Nazi connection, is 100% true.

“It is all correct,” he told Bild. “Reimann senior and Reimann junior were guilty… they belonged in jail.”

In 1978, the Reimann family was made aware of their father and grandfather’s support of Adolf Hitler before Reimann Jr. died in 1985.

Yet, they now realize that some details were not disclosed at that time.

Wealthy German family that owns a controlling stake in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts plans to donate millions after learning of their ancestors were Nazi supporters. https://t.co/4E9ysU2wTC

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 24, 2019

Later, in 2014, the younger Reimanns hired a University of Munich historian to thoroughly check the family’s ancestry.

Just a few weeks ago, the historian presented his findings to the children and grandchildren of Reimann Sr. and Jr.

“We were all ashamed and turned as white as the wall,” Harf said. “There is nothing to gloss over. These crimes are disgusting.”

The Reimann family involvement in Nazi Germany runs deep.

Bild reported that Reimanns donated money to the paramilitary Schutzstaffel before the Nazi party even rose to power.

When the war began, the Reimanns used forced laborers in their industrial chemical plants — “crucial” suppliers to the Nazi armed forces, as Munchies explains. It’s unclear how many POWs and civilians in total were put to work at these factories.

But by 1943, these laborers accounted for about 30% of the overall Reimann company workforce, the AP reports.

If it wasn’t for those unpaid workers, JAB Holding would probably be nowhere close to the giant it is now.

Nor would the Reimanns be one of Germany’s richest families.

Some brands under the Reimann family's JAB Holding:
- Krispy Kreme
- Peet's Coffee
- Stumptown
- Bai
- Tully's Coffee
- Panera
- Pret A Manger
- Bally
- Dr. Pepper
- Calvin Klein
- Wella
- Marc Jacobs
- Philosophy
- OPI
- Rimmel
Read more @business: https://t.co/qdBmhWmra8 pic.twitter.com/LmhP64NxiA

— Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) March 26, 2019

In light of their shady past, the current Reimann generation hopes to right *some* wrongs by donating $11 million to charity.

However, for a company that’s worth billions, some think that number isn’t doing much to soften the blow.

And, it’s true.

There’s no amount of money that can repair the damage caused by the Nazi party.

Worth pointing out that $11mil ain’t nothing to these people.

— Stephen (@STEPHEN_FINE) March 26, 2019

But others bring a good point to the table: we shouldn’t attack the family of those who did wrong.

At least the next generation is trying to do right by their customers and those affected by their family members’ actions.

Glad we hold history against people now.

— J XC (@iRunfastXC) March 25, 2019

That’s a lot more than other companies can say they’ve done. *Cough cough*

Krispy Kreme’s owner out here donating millions after learning their family played a role in slave labor/Nazi affiliation in WWII, but Chick-Fil-A is still actively donating to anti-LGBTQ orgs https://t.co/g1M26d1u4Q

— 🌿Zoe Rain🌿 (@clayandrain) March 26, 2019

Kudos to the younger Reimanns for owning up to their tumultuous past.

They didn’t have to look into their family history further, but they wanted the nitty-gritty details, and unfortunately, got them.

Wow that’s interesting. The family had an inkling or deeper family nazi ties and they went to a university to have them do further research. That’s proactive of them. Well done

— Cran’s Cable Network (@KCran7) March 24, 2019

Although this news is pretty shocking, it’s not enough to pull some of us away from our Krispy Kremes and Panera mac and cheese. Sorry.

Damn that’s crazy. pic.twitter.com/cWn12KwBzZ

— The Bad Guy (@JohnThaDon_) March 25, 2019

If we don’t see it, it doesn’t exist. Right?

pic.twitter.com/eWWVDtMZiT

— Zim Damascus/Sessoms (@Z1M_MDS) March 25, 2019

If JAB Holding is willing to dig up their past and present it to the public, perhaps other companies should take note and do the same.

There are certainly some American companies that have a skeleton or two in their closet.

Time to take a big sip of coffee and thank my lucky stars that this doesn't happen in America https://t.co/Rn5zh6BGPq

— Jerry Iannelli (@jerryiannelli) March 26, 2019

Remember slavery? Yeah. Us, too.

Maybe it’s time we take a page out of the Reimanns’ book and all confront our pasts.

And then donate big bucks and promise to do better.

What are your thoughts on the Reimann family situation?

Should they be cancelled for the sins of their grandfathers, or should they be allowed to leave that part of their history in the past?

lmao 2019 is wild

— Gudis (@SteeleCobra) March 26, 2019

2019 has been hard enough as it is.

It’ll be even harder if we have to give up our Krispy Kremes.