Joel Libava
(Sponsored Post On Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Franchises)
When I visit the Auntie Anne’s franchise nearest me, I always go for the Cinnamon Sugar pretzel. I also tend to snack on them when I’m at an airport between flights.
What’s your favorite Auntie Anne’s® soft pretzel? Inquiring minds want to know.
In the meantime, here’s some information about the world’s largest soft pretzel franchise business in the world, as well as some information on how you can become a franchisee with their tasty, well-known brand.
Pretzel Franchises: Auntie Anne’s Franchise History
In the vast world of franchising, few stories hold as much charm and success as the Auntie Anne’s pretzel franchise. Here’s their story.
Auntie Anne’s, the world’s largest soft pretzel franchise, is named after founder, Anne Beiler.
Anne was born in the heart of Amish country, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was raised Amish, and there were 7 other children in her family. She was put in charge of baking and bread making. And when she got older, she was able to work in a restaurant as a waitress; she also worked at a food stand at the local farmer’s market.
That was where she learned how to bake pretzels. And she did so Pennsylvania Dutch style; soft and doughy.
Her next stop was making soft pretzels at a stand in Maryland (1987).
That proved pretty darn successful, so a few months later, she decided to take a risk (a true entrepreneur) and rented a stand in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She called it Auntie Anne’s Pretzels.
I need to stop for a moment to share something really important about Anne:
Anne had no previous business experience…none at all. And, she only had a ninth grade education. Those two things didn’t stop this very strong-willed young lady. She managed to open 8 stand-alone stores, and after only a year, she opened her first Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels store in a mall. By 1989, Anne had opened her first franchise outlet. That’s incredible.
1800 Pretzel Franchise Locations Strong
Auntie Anne’s has more than 1,800 stores up and running. If you’re interested in owning a franchise in the food business that’s always growing, Auntie Anne’s franchises are worth a look. Plus it’s part of Focus Brands®, a major player in food franchising.
Where Are Auntie Anne’s Franchises Located?
One great thing about Auntie Anne’s is that their stores can be found in all sorts of places. You can find them in:
- Malls
- Airports
- Train stations
- Travel plazas
- Stadiums
- Amusement parks
- Entertainment centers
- Casinos
As you can see, Auntie Anne’s provides several different venues for their franchisees to open up their stores. Maybe there’s one…or two, in your franchise future.
Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Franchise Opportunities
Now that you know the history behind this iconic franchise brand, and the types of locations their stores can be found in, let’s dig into the franchise opportunity.
Store Types
There are three types of Auntie Anne’s setups:
1. In-Line Store– pretzel franchises that are full-size retail stores
2. Pretzel Kiosk– a franchise unit with a smaller footprint than a typical retail store
3. Satellite Retail Unit– also a unit with a smaller footprint, with the baking done at the main pretzel franchise location
As you can see, with an Auntie Anne’s franchise, you have lots of choices. The total investment for an Auntie Anne’s franchise ranges from $148,575 – $572,100…depending on the location and store type.
The Success Of Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Franchises
The success of Auntie Anne’s lies in its strategic franchising model.
It all boils done to the brand’s well-established reputation and the tried-and-true business model.
Additionally, the team at Auntie Anne’s franchise headquarters provides thorough training and top-level support to all its franchisees, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle all the aspects of running a successful pretzel business. And if you’ve visited one of their locations, you can tell the business is run tightly. Want in?
Contact Auntie Anne’sfor more information on store types, costs, etc.
Franchisee Feedback
What do their franchisees think about the company?
“Throughout my time with Auntie Anne’s, I’ve appreciated the fact that with any questions we may have, there is always someone to help you, whether in person or over the phone, they are there to help you achieve a result that will only help you succeed.”
(From an Entrepreneur.com story about Auntie Anne’s)
Here’s what another one Auntie Anne’s franchisees, Bret Stewart, says about the company he partnered with:
For more information on becoming an Auntie Anne’s franchise owner, go to their franchise website.
While you’re doing that, I’m going to drive my chariot over to my nearest Auntie Anne’s store, so I can get my Cinnamon Pretzel fix for the week.
Because I’m hungry after writing this one!
