NORTH CAROLINA —  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD), still recovering from the low-carb diet craze that starved the company's earnings, unveiled a whole wheat doughnut this week.

The 100 percent whole wheat doughnut — with only 180 calories — has a caramel flavoring and is covered with the doughnut-maker's original glaze.

"The Krispy Kreme Whole Wheat Glazed doughnut delivers the delicious taste that our customers have come to expect from us," said Stan Parker, the company's senior vice president of marketing.

Krispy Kreme sales started slipping three years ago as the company expanded its operations during the height of the low-carbohydrate diet craze. Executives also had to sort out an accounting mess, with the company's board concluding that two former executives were trying to "manage earnings" to meet Wall Street expectations.

While the stock once traded above $50, it fell to about $4 during 2006.
Its shares advanced 2 cents to $10.99 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange.