What is the location requirement for a Carvel Hosted Express Shoppe?

According to the 2025 Carvel Franchise Disclosure Document, a Hosted Express Shoppe must be located within the space of another GoTo Foods Portfolio brand shop, bakery, or restaurant that has been approved by Carvel. The Host Facility provides direct operational support for the Carvel location. This type of shoppe allows franchisees to operate a Carvel business within an existing, complementary business, potentially reducing startup costs and leveraging existing customer traffic.

This arrangement differs from a standard Carvel Full Shoppe, which typically operates in free-standing or in-line locations and receives direct operational support from Carvel. It also differs from an Express Shoppe, which can be located within other GoTo Foods Portfolio brands or other approved restaurants, food service facilities, or businesses. The Hosted Express Shoppe is specifically limited to locations within other GoTo Foods Portfolio brands.

For prospective franchisees, this means that the availability of a Hosted Express Shoppe is contingent on finding an existing and approved GoTo Foods Portfolio brand location. The franchisee would need to coordinate with both Carvel and the host facility to ensure compliance with all operational and brand standards. This model may offer a lower barrier to entry for some franchisees, but it also requires a collaborative relationship with the host business.