Besides Carvel, what other franchise brands are part of the GoTo Foods Portfolio?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
GoTo Foods is the indirect parent company to seven franchisors, including: us, Cinnabon Franchisor SPV LLC ("Cinnabon"), Auntie Anne's Franchisor SPV LLC ("Auntie Anne's") Schlotzsky's Franchisor SPV LLC ("Schlotzsky's"), Moe's Franchisor SPV LLC ("Moe's"), Jamba Juice Franchisor SPV LLC ("Jamba"), and McAlister's Franchisor SPV LLC ("McAlister's") (collectively, the "GoTo Foods Portfolio"). Prior to April 2017, the franchisors of these franchise systems (other than Jamba, which was not affiliated with GoTo Foods at the time) were franchised by CL, Auntie Anne's LLC, Cinnabon LLC, Schlotzsky's Franchise LLC, Moe's Franchisor LLC, and McAlister's Corporation (now known as McAlister's LLC) (collectively, the "Former GoTo Franchisors"). Prior to October 2018, the franchisor of the Jamba system was Jamba Juice Company (now known as Jamba Juice LLC) ("JJ"). All seven franchisors in the GoTo Foods Portfolio have a principal place of business at 5620 Glenridge Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30342 and have not offered franchises in any other line of business.
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, Carvel is part of the GoTo Foods Portfolio, which includes seven franchisors. Besides Carvel, the other franchise brands within the GoTo Foods Portfolio are Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Schlotzsky's, Moe's, Jamba, and McAlister's. These brands are all under the indirect parent company GoTo Foods.
For a prospective Carvel franchisee, this affiliation with GoTo Foods could mean several things. There may be opportunities for co-branding or cross-promotion with other brands in the portfolio, as seen with the Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe and Swirl Shoppe concepts. This could potentially attract a broader customer base and increase revenue. Additionally, GoTo Foods provides support and services to franchisees across its brands, potentially leading to efficiencies in areas like supply chain management and marketing.
However, it's also important to consider potential drawbacks. The FDD mentions that a prospective franchisee will not be considered new if they have signed a franchise agreement with any other brands in the GoTo Foods Portfolio, which affects referral fees. Furthermore, franchisees should investigate whether GoTo Foods' involvement impacts the autonomy or decision-making of individual Carvel franchise locations. Understanding the dynamics and potential synergies within the GoTo Foods Portfolio is a crucial aspect of evaluating a Carvel franchise.