What are the requirements to operate a Carvel Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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.
We also refer to Cinnabon as the "Co-Branded Franchisor," the Cinnabon® franchise as the "Co-Branded Franchise," and the Cinnabon® Franchise Agreement as the "Co-Branded Agreement."
- A Swirl Shoppe is a Co-Branded Shoppe that 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.
In order to operate a Swirl Shoppe, you must (i) purchase a Carvel® franchise from us, sign a Franchise Agreement with us, and sign the Swirl Shoppe Schedule, which is attached as Exhibit C to this Disclosure Document (the "Swirl Shoppe Schedule") and (ii) purchase a Cinnabon® franchise from Cinnabon and sign a Cinnabon® franchise agreement and Swirl schedule with Cinnabon.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 9–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carvel Franchise Disclosure Document, a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe is a full Carvel Shoppe that also sells products authorized under the Cinnabon franchise system. To operate a Carvel Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe, a franchisee must first purchase a Carvel franchise and sign the Carvel Franchise Agreement, along with the Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe Schedule.
In addition to the Carvel requirements, the franchisee must also purchase a Cinnabon franchise from Cinnabon and sign the Cinnabon franchise agreement and co-branded schedule with Cinnabon. The terms of the Cinnabon franchise are disclosed in Cinnabon's own Franchise Disclosure Document, which the prospective franchisee must obtain directly from Cinnabon.
Carvel will not grant the right to operate a Cinnabon Co-Branded Shoppe unless Cinnabon agrees to offer the franchisee a Cinnabon franchise and allow it to be operated at a co-branded location. This means that approval from both Carvel and Cinnabon is necessary to proceed with this type of franchise. The FDD also mentions a 'Swirl Shoppe' which is a type of Co-Branded Shoppe operating under the Cinnabon Swirl™ mark and trade dress, offering a menu that combines traditional Carvel and Cinnabon products, as well as hybrid menu items.