Does Carvel or its affiliates own any Carvel businesses?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
As of December 31, 2024, there were 336 franchised Shoppes in the United States and 39 franchised Shoppes operating outside the United States. We and our affiliates do not own any Carvel® businesses.
In addition to offering franchises, we and our affiliates also sell products to (i) wholesale accounts that offer Carvel® products at retail, such as supermarkets, convenience stores, club stores and other similar retail outlets and (ii) unaffiliated branded restaurants and retail stores that we permit to sell one or more Carvel® branded products.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 9–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, neither Carvel nor its affiliates own any Carvel businesses. As of December 31, 2024, there were 336 franchised Carvel Shoppes in the United States and 39 franchised Shoppes operating outside the United States.
This information is relevant for prospective franchisees because it clarifies that Carvel's focus is on franchising rather than operating company-owned stores. This can indicate that Carvel's revenue is primarily generated through franchise fees and royalties, aligning their success with the success of their franchisees.
It's worth noting that while Carvel and its affiliates do not own Carvel businesses, they do sell products to wholesale accounts and unaffiliated branded restaurants, allowing these entities to sell Carvel branded products. This means that franchisees may face competition from other retail outlets selling Carvel products in their territory.