What is the relationship between Inspire Brands and 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, LLC ("Jimmy John's"), and Sonic Franchising LLC ("Sonic"). Inspire Brands is also a parent company to the following franchisors offering and selling franchises internationally: Inspire International, Inc. ("Inspire International"), DB Canadian Franchising ULC ("DB Canada"), DDBR International LLC ("DB China"), DD Brasil Franchising Ltda. ("DB Brasil"), DB Mexican Franchising LLC ("DB Mexico"), and BR UK Franchising LLC ("BR UK"). All of Inspire Brands' franchisors have a principal place of business at Three Glenlake Parkway NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 and, other than as described below for Arby's, have not offered franchises in any other line of business.
Arby's is a franchisor of quick-serve restaurants operating under the Arby's® trade name and business system that feature slow-roasted, freshly sliced roasted beef and other deli-style sandwiches. In July 2011, Arby's became an Affiliated Program through an acquisition. Arby's has been franchising since 1965. Predecessors and former affiliates of Arby's have, in the past, offered franchises for other restaurant concepts including T.J. Cinnamons® stores that served gourmet baked goods. All of the T.J. Cinnamons locations have closed. As of December 29, 2024, there were 3,365 Arby's restaurants operating in the United States (2,286 franchised and 1,079 company-owned), including one multi-brand location. Additionally, as of December 29, 2024, there were 231 single-branded franchised Arby's restaurants operating internationally.
Baskin-Robbins is a franchisor of Baskin-Robbins® restaurants that offer ice cream, ice cream cakes and related frozen products, beverages and other products and services. Baskin-Robbins became an Affiliated Program through an acquisition in December 2020. Baskin-Robbins has offered franchises in the United States and certain international markets for Baskin-Robbins restaurants since March 2006. As of December 29, 2024, there were 2,245 franchised Baskin-Robbins restaurants operating in the United States. Of those 2,245 restaurants, 974 were single-branded Baskin-Robbins restaurants, two were Baskin-Robbins restaurants operating at a multi-brand location, and 1,269 were Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins combo restaurants. Additionally, as of December 29, 2024, there were 5,651 singlebranded franchised Baskin-Robbins restaurants operating internationally and in Puerto Rico.
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 Franchise Disclosure Document, Inspire Brands, Inc. is a global multi-brand restaurant company and parent company to several franchisors, but it is not directly related to Cinnabon. The FDD states that Inspire Brands was launched in February 2018 and is a parent company to franchisors such as 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.
Cinnabon is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of GoTo Foods LLC. This means that GoTo Foods LLC is the parent company of Cinnabon. The document clarifies that Cinnabon LLC (CLLC) is Cinnabon's predecessor and became affiliated with GoTo Foods in November 2004 as a result of an acquisition.
While Inspire Brands is a parent company to other restaurant franchisors, the FDD specifically states that none of Inspire Brands' affiliates operate a Cinnabon franchise. This distinction is important for prospective franchisees to understand the organizational structure and who the direct parent company of Cinnabon is, which in this case is GoTo Foods LLC.