Doughnut Capital of the World!!

Hey, we're number 1!!!!

A recent study by the market-research firm NPD Group Inc. found that the Providence metropolitan area has more doughnut shops per capita than any other region in the Untied States.

NPD said the Providence-Fall River-New Bedford area has 25.3 doughnut shops per 100,000 people. The Boston area ranked second, with 20.4 shops per 100,000 people.

The news should come as no surprise for diehard doughnut lovers, who may remember when NPD delivered the same news five years ago. But the new survey, conducted last fall, confirmed that Rhode Island is a mecca for those bundles of dough – or perhaps the coffee that goes with them.

The top 10 list confirmed the doughnut’s central place in Northeastern cuisine.

After Providence and Boston came the Hartford-New Haven area (16.7 doughnut shops per 100,000 people); Portland, Maine (14); Springfield, Mass. (12.9); Buffalo, N.Y. (10.8); Presque, Maine (10.8); Bangor, Maine (10.5); Albany, N.Y. (9.9); and Rochester, N.Y. (9.8). NPD compiled the list at the request of Providence Business News.

News of the updated list comes as Honey Dew Donuts Inc. prepares to expand its operations in New England. In Rhode Island, the company competes for coffee dollars with other players such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Hortons Inc., Starbucks Corp. and McDonald’s Corp.