AUBURN, Wash. — Since it opened in 2002, Top Pot gained a reputation for making some of the best doughnuts in the Northwest. But the Seattle-based company has something in common with other doughnut makers worldwide. They all rely on a company in Auburn to help create their confections.
"We've been here over 100 years and there's still several customers that are, even around the corner, surprised that we're here," said Stan Dettloff President of Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group.
The name, Belshaw, has been renowned in the doughnut machine-making industry ever since brothers Thomas and Walter Belshaw started the company in Seattle over a century ago.
"The story goes that the Belshaw brothers were eating lunch at a small coffee shop and saw doughnuts being made by hand with a baking powder can. Walter commented that he could build a better machine. And in 1922, he did," Dettloff said.
From small mom and pop shops to major makers like Krispy Kreme, Dunkin', and Hostess, Belshaw is the world's largest supplier of doughnut-making equipment.
"Raw steel comes in the one end of the building every few days. It goes through a fabrication department and then goes into one of two different areas: the retail area to build retail products, the smaller mom and pop type of products, or into the industrial area where they build a large conveyorized automated equipment."
Once made, they're shipped out all over the globe.
"There's Belshaw equipment in 120 countries around the world. USA, Canada, Mexico, all over Asia and in Europe, Australia, Africa, the Philippines," Dettloff said.
Even with all their success, Belshaw is always looking to improve, which makes research and development one tasty endeavor.
"We've been building quite a few test units lately, reinvigorating the innovative spirit, and when we do we test. So about every other week, we've got doughnuts floating through here," Dettloff said.
They may not be a big name in their backyard, but in the world of doughnuts, Belshaw is a hole-in-one.
"Helping feed the world these wonderful pastries is just icing on the donut," Dettloff said.
KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Email.