Down for donuts: How this team is sweetening Chiefs’ Super Bowl sugar rush with Mr. D’s(fense)
January 28, 2025 | Taylor Wilmore
Another return trip to the Super Bowl has Kansas City small businesses joining the Chiefs as behind-the-scenes special teams fueling the Kingdom. For entrepreneur Johnny Chen, the mere taste of victory just a few years ago has multiplied into a box-full of opportunities.
Johnny Chen delivering Mr. D’s Donuts at Arrowhead Stadium; courtesy photo
“The Chiefs’ success has impacted our sales tremendously,” said Chen, co-owner of the popular Shawnee-based Mr. D’s Donuts, alongside his wife, Boggie Otgonbayar. “Usually, the first quarter of the year is the slowest season for restaurants, but with Kansas City now heading back to the Super Bowl, it’s brought in a lot of business.”
Football’s postseason now carries special significance with the team’s winning streak serving as more than a point of pride, but an inspiration point for Mr. D’s creative — and eye-catching — donut designs.
While the shop drops classic glazed donuts daily, Mr.D’s is known for its hand-crafted edible works of art — this time of year, featuring such treats as Patrick Mahomes’ face, player jerseys, and other Chiefs-inspired designs.
“We started doing custom donuts six or seven years ago, starting with themes like Pokémon,” Chen explained. “When it’s playoff season, our team comes together to brainstorm ideas for Chiefs donuts. It’s a team effort to design the fondants, icing, and everything else by hand.”
Mr. D’s Donuts has even catered events for the Chiefs organization itself, giving the shop a chance to build closer ties to the team and its fans.
“That exposure has been incredible for us, through TV, social media and word of mouth,” Chen said.
View this post on Instagram
Beyond feeding Chiefs fans (and players), Mr. D’s Donuts is giving back to the community. The shop recently partnered with Kansas City safety Justin Reid’s charity, JReid Indeed — a nonprofit focused on helping young people thrive in tech-driven environments, particularly targeting neighborhoods in Kansas City, Houston and Baton Rouge.
“And we’re finalizing another charity partnership this week,” Chen shared. “We want people to know that when they support us, we turn around and support the community.”
Mr. D’s Donuts isn’t the only Kansas City brand building an appetite among Chiefs fans. Check out these confections crafted for champions.
Kingdom Cake (Chiefs twist on King Cake) — $30
McClain’s Cakery
Chiefs 13-Piece Cookie Set
3TBakers (Customizable)
Big Game 8 Piece Chocolates — $26
Christopher Elbow
Chocolate Almond-Filled Football — $140
André’s Confiserie Suisse
Chiefs 7-inch Heart cakes — $25
Dolce Bakery
8-inch Chiefs cakes — $62-$72
McClain’s Cakery (Multiple variations available, including Andy Reidcicle, Football, TNT, and KC Wolf)
Custom Sports Shapes — $23-$25
KC Pretzel Boys
Featured Business
Taylor Wilmore
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Solar-powered wearable Eclipse Rx puts sundown on skin cancer exposure
A doctor’s startup, Eclipse Rx, hopes to make skin cancer history. The Kansas City-based company, plans to release a solar-powered, sun-monitoring wearable this summer that will provide users with information about the level of sun they are receiving and how to prevent injury. The wearable communicates with a phone that will send alerts and information,…
IXKC: Racial bias conversation puts white faces in an awkward spot — the minority
Editor’s note: Check out photos from this event below the story. White people have to understand that they’ll never understand, said Lora McDonald. “White people only have to be ‘white’ when they’re in a room with other races. When they aren’t, they get to be individuals, not just a monolithic group,” she told a diverse…
Dimensional Innovations scores with massive Target Center design overhaul
Amid the hustle of a Minnesota Timberwolves game, fans peer through a glass floor at passersby in a lobby below. Looking up, a giant, neon-colored basketball sculpture looms overhead. It’s a moment created for curiosity and connection — designed by Overland Park’s Dimensional Innovations. Extending through multiple floors of the four-story Target Center in Minneapolis,…
SafetyCulture raises $45.5M Series C funding round
SafetyCulture, an Australia-based firm whose North American headquarters is located in Kansas City, announced a huge funding round Monday to advance its tech platform focused on workplace safety. The tech firm raised a $45.5 million Series C round led by New York investment firm Tiger Global Management. Other investors include previous backers, including Blackbird Ventures,…