Our Story

About Daylight Donuts

The history of Daylight Donut Flour Company is a tale of passion, innovation, and sweet success. Founded in 1954 by Tommy and Lucille Day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the company began with a simple yet revolutionary idea – crafting delicious donuts using a unique blend of flour. Their signature yeast-raised donuts quickly gained popularity and became a hit among locals, setting the foundation for what would soon become a beloved American bakery brand. As the demand for their delectable treats soared, Daylight Donuts started expanding, allowing entrepreneurs to share the joy with communities far and wide. Throughout the decades, their commitment to quality, exceptional customer service, and a penchant for innovation led to remarkable growth. With a history spanning over seven decades, Daylight Donut Flour Company remains an enduring symbol of happiness and delight, spreading joy one delicious donut at a time.

History

A Rich History of Delicious.

In 1954, Tommy and Lucille Day set out to create a new kind of donut mix — one with a distinctively light texture and flavor. The Day’s light donut recipe became Daylight Donuts. And over the years, their Tulsa-based enterprise grew into a network of hundreds of independently owned retail outlets nationwide.

1954

Daylight is Founded

Tommy and Lucille Day started Daylight Donut Flour Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They produced their famous light donut mix each morning and sold it to shops in the afternoon, mostly from the trunk of their car.

Growing Fast

Sales of Daylight Donuts products increased so much that the Days were able to hire two more employees and build a 20,000 square foot facility to house their business.

1960

1977

Founders Retire

The Days retired, selling their company to Jerry and Linda Hull. By this time, Daylight Donuts shops numbered more than 200; a fleet of Daylight Donuts trucks soon followed.

New Ownership

John and Sheila Bond purchased the company from the Hulls. The Bonds continue to offer new products and ideas in an expanded, 65,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

2002

2014

60th Anniversary

Daylight Donuts celebrated its 60th anniversary with a renewed commitment to serving store owners with continuously improving ingredients, products, production techniques and business practices.

Looking Toward the Future

After many decades of operation, Daylight Donuts’ expansion continues at a steady pace, with an average of 35 locations opening each year.