When one of the most recognisable brands in the world trusts you to tell their people's story, you really get a confidence boost and an indication that you are doing something right.

That's exactly what happened when Krispy Kreme UK & Ireland engaged with us to become their creative storytelling partner.

What is our mission?

Well…we have been tasked with translating Krispy Kreme's Employer Value Proposition (EVP) into an authentically original, emotional, and story-led 'set' of content that can be used across internal comms, onboarding, social media, and employer branding platforms.

We started working with Pete Hill and Gemma Pye alongside the wider Krispy Kreme team. We jumped in feet first and got straight into the mammoth task. The first part of the project consisted of two full weeks filming in the UK and Ireland.

We flew to Ireland at the start of October 2025 from a rainy Manchester airport. Before we took off, we had an interesting time with security at the airport. Our names were called on the loud tannoy to meet at one of the security posts. When we got there, we were asked to open one of the camera bags. They were concerned that the scanning equipment had picked up something that triggered their sensors. We had an idea what it was, and we were right. All the camera batteries were bundled together in one bag, and this was letting off a big warning signal with their security systems. As we opened the bag, it clicked, and we calmly explained what had happened. So if you are travelling with camera equipment in the future, make sure you separate batteries into different bags!

We were relieved and got on with the journey ahead. We touched down in Dublin and on to our first location, ready for filming the next day.

Ireland - Blanchardstown - Theatre Store & Drive-Thru

We kicked things off at the iconic Blanchardstown theatre store, the brand's first Irish location, which opened in 2018 to record crowds queuing around the retail park and receiving nationwide coverage. There were road blocks and constant queues to try the Krispy Kreme doughnuts right from the first minute they opened. We felt the buzz and excitement as soon as we entered the store, so we all agreed that it was the perfect site to start our filming tour in Ireland.

The first thing that hit us as we walked through the doors was the sweet smell of freshly made doughnuts. If you haven't experienced this before, then I suggest you try it for yourself. It is instant and automatically gets those senses moving in every direction.

The team were so friendly, welcoming, and ready for being filmed, which made our job even easier. Sometimes we walk into a place of work, and there is a sense of trepidation as the cameras are set up and things are disrupted. We have a great ability to make people feel at ease before and during filming. It is a unique skill that we are proud of and gets the best out of the people we work with.

We heard from the team in Logistics, Retail, and Manufacturing about what it's like to work in such a vibrant store. The opportunity it has given to the local community and the goodness it brings to people's lives. What we instantly got a sense of was togetherness from the team. There was a real team effort, and they genuinely wanted to do a great job.

"You feel seen here; you're part of something," said Elaine, one of the longest-serving
team members who joined on day one and is still enjoying going to work there.

We spent the whole day filming different stories and experiences from the team. We even got to see the drone delivery service in action! Yes, there is a drone service that you can order your doughnuts through and have them delivered straight to your garden, where it will drop them off for you.

Amazing.



Ireland - Naas – Manufacturing Site

The next day, we travelled to Naas, one of Krispy Kreme's manufacturing hubs in Ireland. This is one of the sites where the real production magic happens. They produce literally thousands of doughnuts daily, and it never stops. The production lines are constantly running with an efficient team that has a smile on their faces as they work through their shifts. The site has a lot of responsibility because it has a large number of stores around the country that rely on them to deliver fresh doughnuts every single day. This is one of the standout services that Krispy Kreme has in its arsenal: they deliver fresh daily (DFD). Being able to do this keeps the product tasting as good as it can be to give the customer the best possible product.

We had the pleasure of meeting more Krispy Kremer's on site in the spotless manufacturing plant. As you looked around at the different stages of the process, from the initial mixing of ingredients to the hand decorating sections, every single member of the team looked like they wanted to be there and were enjoying their work. There is a people-first mindset, a well-oiled machine that has to be as efficient as possible to keep the production process running.

Hearing from shift leaders and the production team, the one common thread was the desire to work as one. When everyone looks after each other, everyone benefits.

We had a fantastic time in Ireland and look forward to visiting there again in the future.

UK - Purpose and Progress - Shannon Corner

After getting back from Ireland the next week, we headed 'down south' to our Guilford base to prepare for the next stage of the project. Shannon Corner and the Krispy Kreme head office in Frimley were next on the journey. Shannon Corner has been well established for a number of years, with many loyal customers. The site is a hub for regular customers to enjoy more of the sweet treats that are available. We met and filmed many team members who have grown their careers at Krispy Kreme, sharing stories of development and career progression. Some have been working for the business for over ten years and still love it every day.

Frimley – Head Office

Onto Frimley, the brand's UK head office, where we heard from creative, brand, and logistics teams about how senior leadership support has helped to shape their careers. This support had been invaluable in their current success. We captured personal stories of real career progression where senior leaders in the business recognised true potential from an early stage and gave real opportunities for them to shape their futures. It was a real eye-opener and reinforced that Krispy Kreme doesn't just promise these things in its EVP; it shows there is a real career pathway.

One of our favourite moments during the Frimley visit was going out on the road with Emily in her delivery truck. Emily has been working for Krispy Kreme for some time and loves her job. She has had previous driving jobs, so when the opportunity arose to work for Krispy Kreme, she jumped at the opportunity. Throughout the day, she delivers to 30 plus sites where those tasty boxes of doughnuts get so much love from the customers. Whilst speaking to her in the cab, she mentioned that the majority of locations she delivers to are repeat customers, so she gets to see familiar faces every day. This has sparked lasting friendships whilst out delivering.

Prior to going out on the road, there has to be vehicle checks to make sure everything is working perfectly. This is where her passion and attention to detail really shone through as she checked over her vehicle. Her truck was checked inside and out before the route started. Then we saw her carefully loading her trays and boxes of doughnuts into the back of the vehicle, ready to hit the road. You could see that throughout every step of the process, she wanted everything perfect.

Emily gave us an unfiltered look at the dedication and pride that lives in the logistics team.

London – Oxford Street store

The last day was exciting as we ventured into central London to film at the flagship Oxford St store. The central London store was modern and buzzing with energy. You really got the sense that it was more than a retail space that sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts; it was a total brand experience. The team were a real joy to work with, helping us to navigate the store and also giving us first-class service when we sampled some of the many delights that Krispy Kreme offered.

From a video production point of view, it was non-stop back-to-back shooting all day. There was a lot to cover, so a strict plan of action was in place, which helped us keep on track. In a scenario like this, we thought that having two camera ops was the best option. This gave flexibility and options throughout the day. There was a lot of two-person discussions-type filming, so having two cameras with two people meant that we could shoot and never miss anything. Then, when there was a break or we just needed one camera, the other would capture different footage. This allowed us to maximise our time and effort, something that the client always appreciates.

The shoot wasn't just another day; we had some of the senior leaders in the business all waiting to be filmed. This included Guy Meakin, the Managing Director, Pete Hill, the Chief People & Shops Officer, members of the brand and marketing teams, and even the employee of the year, Flower, who was a dream to work with.

The majority of the content was filmed inside the store; however, we did venture outside onto the busy Oxford Street pavement. One of the surprises the team gives is random free doughnut sampling. This can happen at any time, so if you are ever walking down Oxford Street, walk past and you never know there could be free doughnuts being given out. We had heard about this prior to filming and could not believe the speed in which the team were able to give away trays of doughnuts. They went in a flash. The general public could not grab them quickly enough.

We have to give a special mention to Gemma Pye, one of the senior leaders at Krispy Kreme. Gemma was with us on every filming day throughout the two weeks. She was a ball of dynamite. Her personality and enthusiasm were second to none. She not only looked after all the crew and made sure everything ran smoothly, she also was very good at getting the best out of every member of the team that we filmed. I can honestly say that we wouldn't have been able to do as much as we did without her on board right from the start.



Throughout the first part of this project, we heard many of the team referencing the existing pillars of the Krispy Kreme EVP, which included:

Be Your Authentic Self

We heard from diverse and wide-ranging personalities that were just being themselves on camera. They were happy to show off their true characters with a real warmth and smile. It was great to see.

Togetherness

No matter what department or level the team was at, they all had the same collective mindset of lifting each other up.

Recognition & Reward

Celebrating at every single level throughout the business, from employee of the year right through to random acts of kindness.

Flexibility

Roles built around lives, not the other way around.

Career Development

From shop floor to leadership, real growth stories everywhere we visited.

This wasn't just storytelling.
It was strategic EVP activation designed to build employer
brand equity, deepen team pride, and inspire future talent.

Why big brands trust Lucas Media

This project was more than a number of video shoots. It was a trusted, multi-location partnership built with and for senior leaders. Pete and the leadership team at Krispy Kreme placed their confidence in Lucas Media not just to deliver content, but to capture team culture and represent the brand with integrity.

We didn't just show up and press record on the cameras; we aligned to their EVP pillars. We translated a real strategy into story-led content assets to be used across:

Onboarding platforms

Internal communications and newsletters

LinkedIn employer branding

Career pages and award events

Culture decks and team presentations

This is exactly how modern EVP storytelling should work.



If you're a talent leader, employer brand manager, or marketing director looking to show the soul of your business, Lucas Media is your partner.
We work with purpose-led brands to build EVP content that connects, inspires, and performs. Whether you're early in your EVP journey or looking to scale up, we bring the creative firepower and strategic know-how to help you land it in all the right places.

Your people deserve more than a standard PDF or stock footage. They deserve to be seen, celebrated, and remembered. The journey for some is a long and rewarding one; let's get that on camera and shown to the world.

Ready to build a standout employer brand?

Drop us a message; it can all start now.