LaMar’s Celebrates 80 Years of Making Donuts

KANSAS CITY, Mo., (January 12, 2013) — This year, LaMar’s Donuts is proud to celebrate 80 years of hand-crafting gourmet donuts. In honor of this important milestone, Marketing Manager Kayde Pierce spoke with Bonyen Lee of Kansas City’s KCTV5 to discuss what makes LaMar’s Donuts so delicious.

LaMar’s Offers Peppermint Iced Devil’s Food Cake Donut for the Holidays

DENVER (Nov. 27, 2012) – LaMar’s Donuts has created what is sure to be a fan favorite—the Peppermint Iced Devil’s Food Cake Donut, available for a limited time beginning Nov. 23.

Ushered in on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), the holiday donut’s special flavor combines chocolate devil’s food cake covered in smooth peppermint icing with festive red sugar sprinkled on top.

It’s decadent, delicious, and fun – and it’s available to lovers of fine donuts at any LaMar’s Donuts location nationwide until Jan. 2, 2013.

“We are offering the Peppermint Iced Devil’s Food Cake Donut throughout the holidays because the smooth peppermint and rich chocolate tastes pair perfectly with the season,” said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar’s.

This seasonal donut is something of a throwback to the devil’s food donuts founder Ray LaMar began making in 1933.

As in the old days, all LaMar’s donuts—including their newest Peppermint Iced Devil’s Food Cake special—are still made entirely by hand every day. Never using mass-production techniques, LaMar’s employees personally create each donut, from hand-kneading the dough to applying the icing.

That’s the LaMar’s difference, and it’s a difference you can taste in the Peppermint Iced Devil’s Food Cake Donut, available from Nov. 23, 2012 to Jan. 2, 2013.

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About LaMar’s Donuts

After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama and Arizona. LaMar’s has won numerous awards and favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine, and was the first donut to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world’s most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar’s Donuts are proclaimed by many as “simply a better donut.”

Denver, Colo. (November 14, 2012) – Shannon LaMar, wife of Ray LaMar and a driving force behind the success of LaMar’s Donuts, died at age 71 on October 27, 2012. She is survived by three sons.

Mrs. LaMar was not only the wife of the company’s founder, she was also a former employee of the famous chain. Her husband Ray passed away in 2005.

Over the years, Mrs. LaMar helped the company build a loyal clientele, beginning with the first LaMar’s Donuts shop, which was opened in 1960 in a former gas station in Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. LaMar was instrumental in helping to develop the LaMar’s Donuts franchise in 1990.

Today, 27 LaMar’s locations produce more than 17 million donuts each year. LaMar’s Donuts was recommended by Zagat’s Survey, The New Yorker and Gourmet Magazine, and was chosen as one of America’s five best donuts by AOL Cityguide in the summer of 2008.

LaMar’s 2012 Presidential Donut Poll in NY Times

Denver, Colo., (November 9, 2012) – The LaMar’s Donuts Presidential Donut Poll gained international attention recently when The New York Times highlighted the promotion on its opinion page. The infographic that accompanied the story included details and fun facts about the LaMar’s poll. In addition, this year’s poll was covered in Seattle Weekly, and will soon be featured on a popular Japanese national morning television program.

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About LaMar’s Donuts

After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama and Arizona. LaMar’s has won numerous awards and favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine, and was the first donut to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world’s most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar’s Donuts are proclaimed by many as “simply a better donut.”

Mitt Yum-ney is Projected Narrow Winner in LaMar’s Presidential Donut Poll

LaMar’s to give gourmet donuts to voters on Election Day in select locations

DENVER, Colo., November 2, 2012­­ – In a squeaker of a race between two hotly ingested candidates, LaMar’s Donuts is declaring the “Mitt Yum-ney” as the winner of the 2012 Presidential Donut Poll by less than a half-percentage point.

Since September 1, LaMar’s customers have been able to select from two limited-edition gourmet donuts on sale: the “Dough-Bama,” a donkey-shaped donut with blue sugar topping, or the elephant-shaped Mitt Yum-ney donut with red sugar. Sales of the two handmade goodies have been tracked and posted online at www.lamars.com.

As of the end of the polling October 31, the Mitt Yum-ney finishes with 50.2 percent of sales, compared to the Dough-Bama’s 49.8 percent.

Reflecting other polls, the Dough-Bama took an early lead of 3 percentage points in the first announced results, prior to the initial presidential debate. But by mid-October, the Mitt Yum-ney had moved into the lead by a 0.4-percent margin.

“We have a case of donuts imitating life,” said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar’s Donuts. “The race has been almost too close to call, although the larger Mitt Yum-ney has proven slightly more popular, especially among voters ages 10 and younger.”

On November 6, LaMar’s Donuts in Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Overland Park, Kansas, will celebrate Election Day 2012 by giving a free donut to each customer wearing an “I Voted” button or sticker.

In the 2008 LaMar’s Donuts Presidential Poll, the Dough-Bama beat out the “McCandy Cain” with 52 percent of sales. As it turned out, then-Senator Obama won the real presidential election with a nearly identical share of the popular vote: 53.7 percent.

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About LaMar’s Donuts

After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama and Arizona. LaMar’s has won numerous awards and favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine, and was the first donut to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world’s most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar’s Donuts are proclaimed by many as “simply a better donut.”

“Dough-Bama” Takes Lead in Initial Presidential Donut Poll

DENVER, Colo., October 1, 2012 – The blue-sugared, donkey-shaped “Dough-Bama” donut has taken a slim lead over its red-topped “Mitt Yum-ney” rival in the first announced results of the 2012 LaMar’s Presidential Donut Poll.

Sales to date of the Dough-Bama treat – representing President Barack Obama – lead those of the elephant-shaped Mitt Yum-ney – the pastry stand-in for Republican nominee Mitt Romney – by a margin of 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent.

The unscientific poll reflects sales of the two gourmet donuts since September 1 in LaMar’s Donuts in six Midwestern, Western and Southern states.

Coincidentally, current polls in the real presidential race show Obama leading by a range of from 2 to 7 percent.

As election day draws nearer, LaMar’s will track and announce further poll results on its website at www.Lamars.com.

“With a margin this narrow, it’s still an open race,” said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar’s Donuts. “As we all know, tastes in politicians and pastries change regularly.”

The donut poll was also close in the 2008 election, when the Dough-Bama garnered 52 percent of sales against the “McCandyCain” donut, standing in for Republican nominee John McCain. Obama won the real election with a nearly identical share of the popular vote: 53.7 percent.

This year, donut-voter turnout and demographics may affect the poll significantly.

“Our locations report that many presidential-donut eaters are under the age of 10,” Pierce said. “Because the Mitt Yum-ney is considerably larger, size may matter more than political philosophy.”

The donuts will be sold through October 31, with sales proceeds benefitting the Colorado and Kansas City chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association.

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About LaMar’s Donuts
After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama and Arizona. LaMar’s has won acclaim by publications such as The New Yorker, Gourmet magazine, and Zagat, the world’s most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar’s Donuts are proclaimed by many as “simply a better donut.”

Will Presidential Donut Poll Again Pick Winner?

DENVER, Colo., August 30, 2012 – LaMar’s Donuts today announced the launch of the 2012 Presidential Donut Poll, a reprise of the 2008 (unscientific) survey in which customers were able to select from two limited-edition donuts on sale during the election season: the “Dough-Bama,” a donkey-shaped donut with blue sugar frosting and representing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, or the elephant-shaped “McCandyCain” donut with red sugar, representing Republican nominee John McCain.

For the 2012 poll, LaMar’s customers will choose similarly from the “Dough-Bama” and the “Mitt Yum-ney,” each appropriately handmade, shaped and decorated according to the corresponding political party’s identity.

The donuts will be sold from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, and LaMar’s will track sales and release polling results throughout October on its website at www.lamars.com.

Four years ago, the LaMar’s Donuts Presidential Poll projected Mr. Obama as poll winner, with 52 percent of sales. As it turned out, then-Senator Obama won the real election with a nearly identical share of the popular vote: 53.7 percent.

This year the poll is benefitting the Colorado and Kansas City chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, which will receive a portion of sales proceeds. September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an annual event in the effort to advance research and raise awareness of the fight against the neurological disease.

“We are very excited to get into a positive spirit of the 2012 election,” said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar’s Donuts, “We’re looking forward to our customers helping us get a sticky finger on the pulse of the electorate.”

LaMar’s Donates to Colorado Wildfire Relief Efforts

DENVER, Colo., (June 29, 2012) – LaMar’s Donuts is supporting relief efforts in the battle against Colorado’s Waldo Canyon and High Park wildfires by donating thousands of donuts to firefighters and for fundraisers for victims of the most destructive blazes in the state’s history.

When the High Park fire near Fort Collins began June 9, LaMar’s Donuts immediately initiated a daily coffee and donut delivery to firefighter and volunteer headquarters.

“Firefighters and volunteers have been working in shifts as long as 20 hours each for weeks,” said LaMar’s spokesperson, Kayde Pierce. “We’re sending a steady supply of refreshments in hopes of helping them to keep their stamina.”

In support of the victims of the Waldo Canyon Fire on the edge of Colorado Springs, LaMar’s is partnering with the Salvation Army for a fundraising telethon Denver’s Fox31 on Monday, July 2, beginning at 5 a.m. LaMar’s Donuts will donate breakfast and coffee for the volunteers to show their growing support for wildfire victims.

LaMar’s Donuts Brings Back the Pumpkin Spice Trio

DENVER, CO.  October 1, 2011–

LaMar’s Donuts brings back a fan favorite – the Pumpkin Spice donut and latte beginning October 1st.  Many Pumpkin Spice options are available for those who fell in love with the special flavor for the season; including, a delicious glazed Pumpkin Spice cake donut, a decadent Pumpkin Spice cake donut with cream cheese frosting, and a delicate Pumpkin Spice Latte with a low-fat option.  Consumers can find these products at any LaMar’s Donuts nationwide, available until January 2^nd 2012.

“We are offering the Pumpkin Spice trio throughout the holiday season in part because the sweet pumpkin taste in every bite (and sip) pairs perfectly with the season as a whole, and due to the overwhelming requests from our loyal customers to carry it through the new year.” said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar’s.

Like all LaMar’s Donuts, our Pumpkin Spice donuts are produced entirely by hand every day, so no two donuts are exactly alike. Unlike mass-production donuts made elsewhere, every LaMar’s product is hand made from start to finish, beginning with hand-kneading the dough to glazing or icing each donut.

About Lamar’s Donuts
Founded in 1960 by Ray Lamar in Kansas City, the first LaMar’s Donuts grew to national fame in part due to the long lines of customers that formed every morning at its door, as well as TV appearances by Ray Lamar and his gourmet donuts on NBC’s The
Tonight Show and on The Food Network, among other productions. Since franchises became available in the 1990s, LaMar’s Donuts has grown to 27 locations in six states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.  LaMar’s Donuts have been recommended by Zagat’s Survey, the New Yorker and Gourmet Magazine, and were chosen in the summer of 2008 as one of America’s five best donuts by AOL Cityguide. More information is at www.lamars.com.

For a Limited Time, LaMar’s Donuts Introduces the LaMar’s Donut Duo

DENVER, CO.  August 1, 2011 – On August 1, 2011, LaMar’s will be kicking off  its new limited time offer, the LaMar’s Donut Duo. For a limited time guests will receive a free LaMar’s Cold / Hot Cup with every purchase of the LaMar’s Donut Duo. The Donut Duo consists of a specialty beverage and a donut with a hole at only $4.99.

The selection of specialty beverages includes iced coffees, blended coffees and smoothies. Flavors such as mocha and caramel can be expected as part of the iced and blended coffee offerings as well as four berry and mango flavored smoothies. Guests are encouraged to check with their local stores for a listing of current flavor offerings.

The deal also features a free double walled insulated cup that keeps drinks cold or hot. The cups are clear and include a twist on lid and a blue reusable straw.

This promotion will end September 30, 2011.

LaMar’s Donuts – Famous for gourmet, artisan donuts made fresh daily, LaMar’s donuts are hand produced from start to finish, beginning with kneading of the dough to the glazing of each donut. Perfecting his original donut recipe since 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in six states. LaMar’s has won numerous awards and was the first donut to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world’s most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar’s donuts are proclaimed by many as “simply a better donut.”