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Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels

Hand-rolled soft pretzels

Background

Founded: 1988 Franchising since: 1989
Anne Beiler had been baking most of her life, but it wasn't until she began managing a concession stand at a farmer's market in Maryland that she thought about starting a business. The stand served pizzas, pretzels, chips and candy, with the pretzels outselling everything else. Beiler stopped selling pizza and began hand-rolling pretzels in front of her customers, making the snack even more popular. Eventually, Beiler bought her own stand, naming it Auntie Anne's, and, soon two of her brothers were operating Auntie Anne's booths of their own.

Today, Auntie Anne's locations serve a variety of pretzels, dipping sauces and drinks. Stores can be found in shopping centers, airports and train stations across the United States, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

48-50 W. Chestnut St., #200
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603
Phone:
(717)435-1479


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 150 employee(s); 8 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 792 2 211 11
2008 753 1 188 13
2007 723 0 187 10
2006 751 0 175 8
2005 699 0 153 11

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Special Programs
Auntie AnneÂ’s holds franchise contests to encourage marketing efforts. It also sponsors golf tournaments and does fund-raising for the ChildrenÂ’s Miracle Network, which supports 170 childrenÂ’s hospitals.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $197.9K-444.1K
Franchise fee: $30K
Ongoing royalty fee: 7%
Term of agreement: 20 years, renewable
Express/kiosk option available

Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No Yes
Accounts Receivable No Yes
Payroll No Yes

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $350K
Business Experience:
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

Operations
  • 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 9 - 12
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: Up to 2 weeks
  • At franchisee's location: Up to 5 days

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations
  • Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support
  • Ad slicks
  • Regional advertising

Other marketing support
  • Onling toolbox

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#73 (2009); #83 (2008); #72 (2006); #81 (2005);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2009; 2008; 2006; 2005;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#103 (2009);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#62 (2009); #73 (2008); #56 (2006); #58 (2005);


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