National Donut Day: The Right Tray to Celebrate

Posted on June 3, 2022

Between the convenience and the sweetness, it’s clear why everyone loves donuts. The appreciation for these toothsome treats is so strong that the United States and other countries celebrate National Doughnut/Donut Day on the first Friday of June.

If you’re ready to get festive, this piece is for you. In it, MFG Tray discusses the origins of National Donut Day, the market size of this baked goods sector, and how the right processing equipment keeps your customers satisfied.

National Donut Day in a Nutshell

National Donut day isn’t just about sweet glazed cakey goodness and powdered sugar; it actually has patriotic roots. During World War I (WWI), Salvation Army volunteers (lassies) handed out donuts to soldiers on the front lines. The men called the women who served these delectable breakfast desserts “doughnut girls.”

As a primarily Dutch breakfast treat at the time, donuts hadn’t quite rolled their way onto America’s tastebuds yet. But when those doughnut girls started slinging those sweet treats, everything changed. Throngs of foot soldiers began lining up to revel in the joy that a cup of hot coffee and fried dough can bring. In commemoration of that sweets-filled reprieve from the war, the Salvation Army declared the first Friday of June as National Donut Day in 1938.

A (W)hole Lot of Dough

Donuts have come a long way since the eighteenth-century days of Dutch olykoeks, or “oil cakes.” What were once little cake balls fried in pork fat have evolved into seemingly endless combinations of sweet, savory, and even spicy pastries. Whether you prefer to indulge in custard-filled bliss or nestle a sandwich between two glazed goodies, there’s a donut out there to satisfy practically every craving.

Americans love donuts. So much so that in 2020, the donut industry brought in a whopping $7.16 billion. Moreover, the industry is expected to grow by $5.02 billion by 2025. Primarily due to their quick convenience and downright delightfulness, donuts have made their way into coffee shops, food courts, and quick-service restaurants, making them readily available to hungry consumers.

The goodness of donuts extends beyond our bellies, too. In fact, donut stores employ over 108,000 people annually. Moreover, thousands of additional jobs are added to the sector each year.

Producing the kind of quality confection that keeps customers coming back is no small feat. It requires the right people armed with the right tools for the job. Thankfully, MFG Tray is here to help.

Make Some Dough

As we like to say at MFG Tray, the material matters in material handling. From food handling and processing to storage and display, donut shops and commercial bakers should consider investing in composite material handling products for their food service applications.

MFG Tray options tout higher and lower temperature ratings, weight limits, and resistance to chemical cleaners than traditional thermoplastic products. Moreover, our composite foodservice containers don’t warp or sag like plastic alternatives, and don’t crush or bend like metal options. Plus, they have structurally strong stackability, which helps you save valuable real estate in your kitchen.

MFG Tray foodservice products are listed with the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Food Service Handling Solutions

Baking demands rugged handling products. Whether you’re dealing with freezing temperatures or unending sanitization, kitchen equipment takes a beating. MFG Tray offers an array of products that are up to the challenge. Specifically designed for food storage, preparation, and merchandising, MFG’s products include:

MFG Tray’s foodservice products are available in several colors and offer additional features, including lids and dolly carts.

Composite Safety & Convenience

Our material handling products’ smooth, non-porous surface facilitates streamlined food handling. It also makes them resistant to odors, stains, and mildew.

Unlike many wooden alternatives, composite trays aren’t harmed by detergents and are easily cleaned in any standard or commercial washer. MFG Tray products can also handle standard baking temperatures, flash freezing, and constant refrigeration.

What Makes Composites So Strong?

MFG Tray manufactures its own sheet molding compound that we formulated for unrivaled quality assurance for our foodservice customers. The multi-directional fibers in our trays, boards, and boxes, increase the equipment’s tensile strength and make them more rigid than thermoplastic could even be. We routinely test our composite material to ensure strength and performance.

Donut Go without Saying Hello!

If you’re interested in learning more about our food service options, especially for bakers and donut shops, reach out to us today. There are so many reasons to use our composite material trays, from superior durability to easier sanitation.

MFG Tray has equipped bakers and commercial kitchens across the country with better material handling equipment, and now we want to help you. Head to our product page to browse our lightweight dough boxes and other commercial kitchen products. Don’t hesitate to reach out by visiting our contact page.