2017 Economic Impact Awards 1-5 Years in Operation Winner: Hurts Donut Co. LLC

In the last four years, Hurts Donut Co. has redefined the way doughnuts are perceived in the Midwest, but that wasn’t founder and CEO Tim Clegg’s original goal when starting the company.

Clegg and his wife, Kas dove head first into the doughnut game to fill a gap between the summers they spent working at their seasonal business, Sno Biz. Before opening their first doughnut store, the couple had no idea of the impact that Hurts Donut would have on the community.   

“It took off like we never would have expected,” Clegg says. “Whenever we opened, we quickly realized the popularity and success of it and turned it into a franchisable brand.”

Just three years later, Hurts Donut had two company stores and seven franchise locations. Combined, the company's locations totaled $9.6 million in revenue in 2016, a $6 million increase over 2015 revenue of $3.6 million.

Hurts Donut locations have popped up throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Nebraska and Arizona.

“It’s been unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of,” Clegg says. “We’ve been full-steam ahead.”

Alongside the unique doughnut flavors – such as cereal killers with Fruit Loops and the like on top – Clegg credits the use of social media for the shop’s popularity.

“Our business wouldn’t be where it is today without it,” Clegg says. “It offers instant gratification when it comes to marketing or advertising our business.”

One of their most popular social media contests is Hurts’ emergency doughnut vehicle, a decorated ambulance that travels around the Ozarks on deliveries. Clegg says the van has become a way to offer the Hurts Donut experience to smaller communities with 10 percent of sales donated to a local charity in the area.  

The Springfield area has benefitted from the company’s creation of part-time and full-time jobs. In 2016, the company provided 60 jobs in Springfield, bringing in $2.7 million in local revenue, an increase of $1.1 million over 2015 local revenue of $1.6 million.

Throughout the expansion of the doughnut empire, vendor loyalty has not been lost. Almost all of Hurts Donut’s vendors are from the Springfield area – another bump for the local tax base.

The company also has impacted the Ozarks in terms of tourist traffic from its unusual doughnuts featured in the likes of Food Network magazine. Hurts Donut also is listed on many websites as a “thing to do” in Springfield, which Clegg says has helped the Springfield economy.

Close to the owner’s hearts, Hurts Donut also partners with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Before the first doughnut shop opened in 2013, Clegg was diagnosed with MS and later joined the national board. All 14 locations raise money for the organization every day of the year.

While Hurts Donut participates in the Walk MS and Bike MS races, Clegg recently created the Hurts Donut 5K, which was supported by hundreds of community members.

“We would be in a different place if we weren’t a charitable company,” Clegg says. “Everyone down to our hourly staff is very dedicated to not just our product, but the causes we support.”