Is Cinnabon required to grant me the right to operate an Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- An "Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery" is a Full Bakery where you produce and sell a range of Cinnabon® products in conjunction with those products authorized to be sold
under the Auntie Anne's® franchise system. In order to operate an Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery, you must (i) purchase a Cinnabon® franchise from us, sign a Franchise Agreement with us, and sign the Co-Branded Bakery Schedule, which is attached as Exhibit C to this Disclosure Document (the "Co-Branded Bakery Schedule") and (ii) purchase an Auntie Anne's® franchise from Auntie Anne's and sign an Auntie Anne's® franchise agreement and co-branded schedule with Auntie Anne's. The terms of the Auntie Anne's® franchise offering, franchise agreement, and related agreements that Auntie Anne's will require you to sign are disclosed in the Auntie Anne's® Disclosure Document, which you must obtain from Auntie Anne's. We will not grant you the right to operate an Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery, unless Auntie Anne's agrees to offer you an Auntie Anne's® franchise and to permit the franchise to be operated at a co-branded location.
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, Cinnabon is not required to grant you the right to operate an Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery. To operate an Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery, you must first purchase a Cinnabon franchise and sign a Franchise Agreement and Co-Branded Bakery Schedule with Cinnabon.
However, you must also purchase an Auntie Anne's franchise from Auntie Anne's and sign their franchise agreement and co-branded schedule. Cinnabon will not grant you the right to operate an Auntie Anne's Co-Branded Bakery unless Auntie Anne's agrees to offer you an Auntie Anne's franchise and permits the co-branded operation.
This means that even if you meet Cinnabon's requirements, you are not guaranteed the right to open a co-branded bakery. The decision ultimately depends on Auntie Anne's approval as well. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider this dual-approval process and the potential for denial by either franchisor when planning their business venture.
This arrangement is not uncommon in co-branded franchise concepts, as each brand needs to protect its own interests and ensure that franchisees meet their respective standards. It is crucial to review both the Cinnabon and Auntie Anne's franchise disclosure documents to fully understand the obligations and requirements of each franchise.