Since its launch in Paris, Krispy Kreme has run afoul of the mayor's office

Since opening its first location in the French capital this week, Krispy Kreme has already encountered difficulties with the deputy mayor of Paris.

Hundreds of Parisians descended upon Krispy Kreme's DNUT, +0.31% new store, which opened today. The location was formerly a Michelin-starred restaurant run by chef Alain Ducasse.

But Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire was also incensed about the North Carolina doughnut vendor's arrival in Paris after the company displayed several posters throughout the city.

Krispy Kreme's poster campaign was criticized by the Socialist Party politician for "littering the streets," which he called ", polluting, and costly for the community." According to French law, flyposting—a so-called guerrilla marketing tactic—is prohibited.

"Get ready for a big fine!" "Get ready to change your diet with @KrispyKremeFrr," was the tweet that Grégoire replied to in honor of the campaign.

The advertising firm Buzzman Time, which has created marketing campaigns for Uber Eats and Burger King in the past, created the poster campaign.

France is currently the second-biggest fast-food market in the world, and Krispy Kreme's first entry into the country came with the opening of its Paris location.

Over the next five years, the 1937-founded company that is listed on the New York stock exchange intends to construct 500 doughnut stands throughout France. There are currently 38 countries where Krispy Kreme doughnuts can be found, including Kazakhstan, Myanmar, and Cambodia. There are 379 of its locations in 41 states and the District of Columbia in the United States.

In the third quarter of 2023, Krispy Kreme brought in $407 million in revenue, up 7.9% from the same period the previous year, according to its most recent financial reports.

MarketWatch reached out to Krispy Kreme and Buzzman Time for comment, but neither company responded.