MEET THE FOUNDERS
Lester Chastain Co-founder of Lovit Donuts
Lester Chastain is a nationally recognized donut‑industry consultant, trainer, and business strategist whose four‑decade journey began in the heart of a small family donut shop. At just 15 years old, he learned the craft firsthand from his uncle, starting with sweeping floors and watching donut holes fry before graduating into the highly specialized, often secretive world of professional donut making. Trained using old‑world recipes passed down by veteran bakers, Lester gained rare, hands‑on experience in some of the most respected donut shops in the San Francisco Bay Area.
By age 24, he became one of the youngest owners of a multi‑location donut business, purchasing and operating Donut World before successfully selling both locations. Although his entrepreneurial path later expanded into other industries, his passion for donuts never faded. He continued refining specialized donut lines, funding shops, and developing proven systems that blend exceptional product quality with modern business operations.
Today, Lester is the founder of Donut Business Consultation, where he helps independent donut shop owners and franchise operators launch, scale, and dominate their local markets. His end‑to‑end approach covers everything from business modeling and kitchen design to equipment sourcing, menu development, and operational scaling. His methods emphasize efficiency, profitability, and long‑term business valuation—ensuring that each shop he supports is built for sustainable success.
Lester’s production expertise spans scratch yeast donuts, cake donuts, French crullers, copper‑kettle fillings, gourmet glazes, and high‑volume specialty lines. His advanced donut training programs have helped entrepreneurs across the country master the craft while building systems that keep quality consistent and operations streamlined.
For the past 15 years, Lester has dedicated his career to elevating donut businesses nationwide. Combining decades of production mastery with marketing, branding, and technology, he has become one of the most trusted experts in the industry. His latest venture,
Lovit Donuts, a franchise he co‑founded, represents the culmination of his experience—built on integrity, craftsmanship, and donuts made the way they were meant to be.
