SAUGUS — Kane’s Donuts on Route 1 in Saugus is selling “donut kits” so that fans of the staple North Shore bakery can decorate their own sweet treats at home.
Inspired by pizza places that have started selling similar “build-your-own” options, owner Paul Delios said he wanted to offer something fun to entertain people stuck inside because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We needed to come up with something to bring Kane’s into the lives of our customers without having them stick around in a store being worried about this virus going on,” said manager David Antolini.
Delios added: “(We had) a lot of customers emailing wanting to know if we could come up with something creative, and David grabbed the bull by the horns and said ‘what do you think of doing this?'”
Available to customers starting this week, each box contains six of the local chain’s popular golden yeast donut rings, assorted frostings and toppings, wax bags, and a chef’s hat, which Delios said makes them the perfect distraction for parents of young children.
“I think moms like to be able to take the kids and sit them down so they can get five minutes of breathing time,” he said. “Schools are closed and they can’t go to work, so they’re home with the kids all day. This keeps them busy for a little bit.”
The kits have been so popular that Kane’s has been forced to implement a 48-hour advance order policy so that the bakery can keep up with demand, and, although Delios and Antolini thought parents of school-age children would be the main buyer base, the two said they’ve heard from customers of all ages who have enjoyed creating their own pastries.
“Someone just wrote to me today,” Antolini said. “They were so excited because they were doing a virtual DIY donut party. (They thought) it was amazing.
“It’s not just for kids. It’s a good way to come up with your own ideas.”
Kits are $25 and can be ordered by emailing the customer’s name and date of pickup to [email protected]. Boxes are made fresh every day and are only available at the Kane’s Donuts flagship store, located at 1575 Broadway, Saugus.
