What is the relationship between Inspire International, DB Canadian Franchising ULC, DDBR International LLC, DD Brasil Franchising Ltda., DB Mexican Franchising LLC, and BR UK Franchising LLC, in the context of Auntie Annes?
Auntie_Annes Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Auntie Anne's® franchise.
Inspire Brands, Inc. ("Inspire Brands") is a global multi-brand restaurant company, launched in February 2018 upon completion of the merger of the Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings brands. Inspire Brands is a parent company to six franchisors offering and selling franchises in the United States, including: Arby's Franchisor, LLC ("Arby's"), Baskin-Robbins Franchising LLC ("Baskin-Robbins"), Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. ("Buffalo Wild Wings"), Dunkin' Donuts Franchising LLC ("Dunkin'"), Jimmy John's Franchisor SPV, LLC ("Jimmy John's"), and Sonic Franchising LLC ("Sonic"). Inspire Brands is also a parent company to the following franchisors offering and selling franchises internationally: Inspire International, Inc. ("Inspire International"), DB Canadian Franchising ULC ("DB Canada"), DDBR International LLC ("DB China"), DD Brasil Franchising Ltda. ("DB Brasil"), DB Mexican Franchising LLC ("DB Mexico"), and BR UK Franchising LLC ("BR UK"). All of Inspire Brands' franchisors have a principal place of business at Three Glenlake Parkway NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 and, other than as described below for Arby's, have not offered franchises in any other line of business.
Arby's is a franchisor of quick-serve restaurants operating under the Arby's® trade name and business system that feature slow-roasted, freshly sliced roasted beef and other deli-style sandwiches. In July 2011, Arby's became an Affiliated Program through an acquisition. Arby's has been franchising since 1965. Predecessors and former affiliates of Arby's have, in the past, offered franchises for other restaurant concepts including T.J. Cinnamons® stores that served gourmet baked goods. All of the T.J. Cinnamons locations have closed. As of December 31, 2023, there were 3,413 Arby's restaurants operating in the United States (2,316 franchised and 1,097 company-owned) and 200 franchised Arby's restaurants operating internationally.
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Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 10–24)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Auntie Annes Franchise Disclosure Document, Inspire International, DB Canadian Franchising ULC (DB Canada), DDBR International LLC (DB China), DD Brasil Franchising Ltda. (DB Brasil), DB Mexican Franchising LLC (DB Mexico), and BR UK Franchising LLC (BR UK) are all parent companies to franchisors that operate internationally. Inspire Brands is a parent company to Inspire International, DB Canadian Franchising ULC, DDBR International LLC, DD Brasil Franchising Ltda., DB Mexican Franchising LLC, and BR UK Franchising LLC.
Inspire International has offered and sold franchises outside the United States for Arby's restaurants (since May 2016), Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars (since October 2019), Jimmy John's restaurants (since November 2022), and Sonic restaurants (since November 2019). DB Canada has offered and sold Baskin-Robbins franchises in Canada since January 1972. DB China has offered and sold Baskin-Robbins franchises in China since March 2006. DB Brasil has offered and sold Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins franchises in Brazil since May 2014. DB Mexico has offered and sold Dunkin' franchises in Mexico since October 2006. BR UK has offered and sold Baskin-Robbins franchises in the UK since December 2014.
This means that while Auntie Annes is part of the Inspire Brands portfolio, these specific entities focus on franchising other brands (like Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin', etc.) in international markets. An Auntie Annes franchisee would not directly interact with these entities unless they also had franchise interests in those other brands in the specified regions.