Where is a Cinnabon Express Bakery typically located?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- An "Express Bakery" is a Bakery where you produce and sell a limited selection of Cinnabon products from a space that will typically be located in another restaurant, food service facility, or business approved by us ("Host Facility").
Typically, if we offer you the opportunity to operate an Express Bakery, the Express Bakery will be located in a Schlotzsky's® restaurant (which will be the Host Facility).
In limited circumstances, we may offer you the opportunity to operate an Express Bakery that is not located in a Host Facility or in a Host Facility that operates under a brand other than Schlotzsky's.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 9–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cinnabon FDD, an Express Bakery is usually situated within another business, often a restaurant or food service facility, that Cinnabon approves as a "Host Facility." The most common arrangement is for the Express Bakery to be located inside a Schlotzsky's restaurant.
This co-location strategy allows Cinnabon to expand its reach without the overhead costs of a standalone store. For franchisees, this can mean lower startup costs and access to existing customer traffic. The FDD specifies that Schlotzsky's is an affiliate of Cinnabon.
However, the FDD also notes that in some cases, an Express Bakery might be located in a Host Facility operating under a different brand than Schlotzsky's, or even in a location that is not a Host Facility at all. Prospective franchisees should inquire with Cinnabon about the specific requirements and approval process for Host Facilities, as well as the potential for operating an Express Bakery in a non-traditional location.