What is the full name of the Sonic franchisor affiliated with Cinnabon?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
None of these affiliates operate a Cinnabon franchise.
Inspire Brands, Inc. ("Inspire Brands") is a global multi-brand restaurant company, launched in February 2018 upon completion of the merger of the Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings
brands. Inspire Brands is a parent company to six franchisors offering and selling franchises in the United States, including: Arby's Franchisor, LLC ("Arby's"), Baskin-Robbins Franchising LLC ("Baskin-Robbins"), Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. ("Buffalo Wild Wings"), Dunkin' Donuts Franchising LLC ("Dunkin'"), Jimmy John's Franchisor SPV,
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, Sonic Franchising LLC is the franchisor of Sonic Drive-In restaurants and is affiliated with Cinnabon through Inspire Brands. Inspire Brands is the parent company to several franchisors, including Cinnabon Franchisor SPV LLC, Arby's Franchisor, LLC, Baskin-Robbins Franchising LLC, Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc., Dunkin' Donuts Franchising LLC, Jimmy John's Franchisor SPV, LLC, and Sonic Franchising LLC.
This affiliation means that while Cinnabon franchisees are not obligated to purchase products or services from Sonic, they have the option to do so. This interconnectedness arises because both Cinnabon and Sonic are under the umbrella of Inspire Brands, Inc., a global multi-brand restaurant company.
Prospective Cinnabon franchisees should understand the structure of Inspire Brands and its various subsidiaries, as this may present opportunities for collaboration or cross-promotion between different franchise brands. However, it is important to note that the FDD explicitly states that none of the affiliated franchisors are obligated to provide products or services to Cinnabon franchisees, ensuring that franchisees maintain autonomy in their business operations.