What is the significance of Baskin-Robbins becoming an Affiliated Program through an acquisition in December 2020 for potential Moes Southwest Grill franchisees?
Moes_Southwest_Grill Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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 10–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Baskin-Robbins becoming an Affiliated Program through an acquisition in December 2020 means that it is now under common control with Moe's Southwest Grill through private equity funds managed by Roark Capital Management, LLC. This affiliation does not obligate Baskin-Robbins to provide any products or services to Moe's Southwest Grill franchisees. However, a Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee may choose to purchase products or services from Baskin-Robbins if they wish.
This affiliation is part of a broader network of franchise programs under Roark Capital Management, including Inspire Brands, which is a parent company to several other franchisors like Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings. This means that Moe's Southwest Grill is part of a larger family of franchise brands, which could potentially lead to shared resources, best practices, or cross-promotional opportunities, although the FDD does not explicitly state these benefits.
For a prospective Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee, the affiliation with Baskin-Robbins and other franchise programs primarily signifies the backing of a large management company. While there's no direct obligation or guarantee of support from these affiliated brands, the connection to a broader network may offer some level of stability or access to resources that might not be available to standalone franchises. It's important to note that the FDD clearly states that none of the affiliated franchisors are obligated to provide products or services, so any potential benefits would likely be indirect or at the discretion of the affiliated companies.