What is the 'Co-Branded Franchise' referring to in the Carvel FDD?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ou operate an Ice Cream Truck, you will sign the Franchise Agreement, along with the Carvel Ice Cream Truck Schedule attached as Exhibit C to this Disclosure Document (the "Ice Cream Truck Schedule").
- A Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe (also referred to as a "Co-Branded Shoppe") is a Full Shoppe where you produce and sell a range of Carvel products in conjunction with those products authorized to be sold under the Cinnabon® franchise system. In order to operate a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe, you must (i) purchase a Carvel® franchise from us, sign a Franchise Agreement with us, and sign the Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe Schedule, which is attached as Exhibit C to this Disclosure Document (the "Co-Branded Shoppe Schedule") and (ii) purchase a Cinnabon® franchise from Cinnabon and sign a Cinnabon® franchise agreement and co-branded schedule with Cinnabon. The terms of the Cinnabon® franchise offering, franchise agreement, and related agreements that Cinnabon will require you to sign are disclosed in the Cinnabon® Disclosure Document, which you must obtain from Cinnabon. We will not grant you the right to operate a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe, unless Cinnabon agrees to offer you a Cinnabon® franchise and to permit the franchise to be operated at a co-branded location.
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, the 'Co-Branded Franchise' refers to the Cinnabon franchise when it is operated in conjunction with a Carvel franchise. Specifically, this arrangement is part of a 'Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe,' where franchisees sell both Carvel and Cinnabon products.
To operate a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe, a prospective franchisee must purchase both a Carvel franchise and a Cinnabon franchise. This involves signing a Franchise Agreement with Carvel, along with the Co-Branded Shoppe Schedule, and a separate franchise agreement with Cinnabon, including their co-branded schedule. Carvel will not grant the right to operate a Co-Branded Shoppe unless Cinnabon also agrees to offer a Cinnabon franchise and allow it to operate at the co-branded location.
Carvel also offers a 'Swirl Shoppe,' which is a type of Co-Branded Shoppe operating under the Cinnabon Swirl™ mark. These locations feature a menu that combines traditional Carvel and Cinnabon products, including hybrid items. Similar to the standard Co-Branded Shoppe, operating a Swirl Shoppe requires purchasing franchises from both Carvel and Cinnabon and signing the respective franchise agreements and schedules.
Prospective franchisees interested in a co-branded location should carefully review both the Carvel and Cinnabon Franchise Disclosure Documents to understand the full scope of obligations, fees, and requirements associated with each franchise. They should also consider the complexities of managing two different franchise systems within a single location.