What two agreements must I sign with Cinnabon to operate a Carvel Co-Branded Bakery?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- A "Carvel 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 Carvel® franchise system. In order to operate a Carvel 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 a Carvel® franchise from Carvel and sign a Carvel® franchise agreement and co-branded schedule with Carvel. The terms of the Carvel® franchise offering, franchise agreement, and related agreements that Carvel will require you to sign are disclosed in the Carvel® Disclosure Document, which you must obtain from Carvel. We will not grant you the right to operate a Carvel Co-Branded Bakery, unless Carvel agrees to offer you a Carvel® 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, to operate a Carvel Co-Branded Bakery, a franchisee must first purchase a Cinnabon franchise. As part of this purchase, the franchisee is required to sign two agreements with Cinnabon: a Franchise Agreement and the Co-Branded Bakery Schedule. The Co-Branded Bakery Schedule is included as Exhibit C to the Franchise Disclosure Document.
In addition to these agreements with Cinnabon, the franchisee must also purchase a Carvel franchise from Carvel and sign a Carvel franchise agreement and co-branded schedule with Carvel. The specific terms of the Carvel franchise are detailed in Carvel's own Franchise Disclosure Document, which the franchisee must obtain directly from Carvel. Cinnabon will not approve a franchisee to operate a Carvel Co-Branded Bakery unless Carvel also agrees to offer a Carvel franchise at the same co-branded location.
This co-branding arrangement means that prospective franchisees must meet the requirements of both Cinnabon and Carvel to operate such a location. Franchisees should carefully review both franchise agreements and related schedules to understand their obligations to each franchisor. This includes understanding the fees, operational requirements, and standards set by both Cinnabon and Carvel.