What is the dependency for operating a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe with Carvel?
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, operating a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe requires fulfilling specific conditions with both Carvel and Cinnabon. A Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe is defined as a Full Shoppe that sells Carvel products in conjunction with products authorized under the Cinnabon franchise system.
To operate a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe, a prospective franchisee must first purchase a Carvel franchise and sign a Franchise Agreement with Carvel, including the Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe Schedule. Additionally, the franchisee must purchase a Cinnabon franchise from Cinnabon and sign a Cinnabon franchise agreement and co-branded schedule with Cinnabon. Carvel will not grant the right to operate a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe unless Cinnabon agrees to offer a Cinnabon franchise and allow it to operate at a co-branded location.
This co-branding arrangement means that the franchisee's ability to operate the co-branded location is contingent on approval from both Carvel and Cinnabon. The franchisee must satisfy the requirements of both franchise systems, and the failure to secure a franchise agreement with Cinnabon will prevent the franchisee from operating a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe, even if they have already secured a Carvel franchise. The FDD also mentions a 'Swirl Shoppe' which operates under the Cinnabon Swirl™ mark and trade dress and offers a unique menu that offers traditional Carvel® and Cinnabon® products in addition to hybrid menu items that combine products and ingredients from both brands, and has similar requirements.