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Cinnabon

{{short description|American baked goods store chain}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Cinnabon, Inc.

| logo = Cinnabon logo.svg

| image = Cinnabon.jpg

| image_caption = Cinnabon mall bakery location in Moscow, Russia (2019)

| type = Subsidiary

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1985}} in Federal Way, Washington

| location_city = Sandy Springs, Georgia

| location_country = United States

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Tracey Young (Chief Brand Officer)

| industry = Restaurants Franchising

| products = Cinnamon rolls
Coffee
Churros
Milkshakes

| parent = AFC Enterprises (1998–2004)
GoTo Foods (2004–present)

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.cinnabon.com/}}

}}

Cinnabon, Inc., is an American chain of baked goods stores and kiosks, normally found in areas with high pedestrian traffic such as malls, airports and rest stops. The company's signature item is the cinnamon roll. As of December 2017, there were more than 1,200 Cinnabon bakeries operating in 48 countries.[https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2017/10/23/scents-from-a-mall-the-sticky-untold-story-of-cinnabon Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon]. Seattle Met, Retrieved 12 December 2017 Its headquarters are in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States."[http://www.cinnabon.com/media/Cinnabon_Press_Kit.pdf Cinnabon At-A-Glance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017111607/http://www.cinnabon.com/media/Cinnabon_Press_Kit.pdf |date=October 17, 2006}}." Cinnabon. Retrieved on February 25, 2010."[http://files.sandysprings-ga.org/maps/SandySprings_CouncilDistricts.pdf City Council Districts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117135736/http://files.sandysprings-ga.org/maps/SandySprings_CouncilDistricts.pdf |date=January 17, 2010}}." City of Sandy Springs. Retrieved on July 4, 2009.

The company is co-owned—with Schlotzsky's, Carvel, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, Jamba, and Auntie Anne's brands—by GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands), an affiliate of private equity firm Roark Capital Group,[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04EED71730F93AA3575AC0A9629C8B63 Focus Brands To Buy Cinnabon From AFC Enterprises]. New York Times, September 9, 2004 based in Sandy Springs, Georgia, operating over 5,000 stores.

History

File:Cinnamon roll-Cinnabon.jpg

The idea for Cinnabon emerged in 1985 after Rich Komen, majority owner of Restaurants Unlimited, observed the commercial success of T.J. Cinnamons, a bakery based in Kansas City, Missouri, that specialized in cinnamon rolls. T.J. Cinnamon's popularity prompted Komen to explore the possibility of franchising the concept on the West Coast. Komen attempted to negotiate franchising rights for T.J. Cinnamon's but was unable to secure an agreement granting exclusive rights for the region. He then explored a partnership with Mrs. Powell's, a bakery in Idaho Falls, Idaho, also known for its cinnamon rolls, but this effort too failed to result in a franchise agreement.{{cite web |last=Vermillion |first=Allecia |title=Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon |website=Seattle Met |date=October 23, 2017 |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2017/10/scents-from-a-mall-the-sticky-untold-story-of-cinnabon |access-date=April 17, 2025}}{{cite web |last=Clifton |first=Pamela |title=Simply Sweet: Missouri's surprising cinnamon roll heritage |website=Missouri Life |date=November 24, 2023 |url=https://missourilife.com/simply-sweet-missouris-surprising-cinnamon-roll-heritage/ |access-date=April 17, 2025}}

Having already secured a lease for a retail space in SeaTac Mall in Federal Way, Washington, Komen and Ray Lindstrom, the then Restaurants Unlimited CEO, proceeded to develop an original bakery concept. To create their signature product, they collaborated with Jerilyn Brusseau, a baker from Seattle, who was tasked with developing a cinnamon roll recipe. The first Cinnabon bakery opened on December 4, 1985, in SeaTac Mall, now called The Commons at Federal Way.{{Cite web |title=Cinnabon Company |url=https://www.cinnabon.com/company-info |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Cinnabon |language=en-US}} Cinnabon's original business strategy emphasized a specialized focus on its signature product, cinnamon rolls, which were prominently branded as "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls" and became central to the company's brand identity.

Cinnabon's first franchise-operated store opened in August 1986 just outside of Philadelphia at the King of Prussia Mall. Cinnabon stores today can also be found in gas stations, universities, rapid transit stations, casinos, and amusement parks.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Cinnabon was bought by AFC Enterprises, Inc. in 1998 for $65 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/19/business/company-news-afc-enterprises-to-purchase-cinnabon-international.html |title=NY Times: AFC Enterprises to Purchase Cinnabon International |access-date=July 1, 2009 |date=August 19, 1998 | work=The New York Times}} In 2004, AFC Enterprises, Inc., sold Cinnabon for $30.3 million to Focus Brands, Inc., which is owned by the Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital Group.{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04EED71730F93AA3575AC0A9629C8B63&scp=3&sq=cinnabon&st=cse |title=NY Times: Focus Brands to Buy Cinnabon from AFC Enterprises |access-date=July 1, 2009 |date=September 9, 2004 | work=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.roarkcapital.com/portfolio-companies.php|title=Roark Capital Group :: Portfolio Companies|work=roarkcapital.com|access-date=July 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709091816/http://www.roarkcapital.com/portfolio-companies.php|archive-date=July 9, 2009|url-status=dead}} The headquarters moved to Greater Atlanta in 1999. In November 2020, British retail group EG Group announced a partnership with Cinnabon to open 150 branded stores in the UK over five years.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-30|title=EG Group to Open 150 Cinnabon® Bakeries Across the UK Under New Master Licensee Deal|url=https://uk.eurogarages.com/company-news-fuel-retailers-join-forces/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Euro Garages|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Gilbert2020-11-30T12:00:00+00:00|first=Helen|title=Cinnabon to open 150 sites in the UK|url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/retail/cinnabon-to-open-150-sites-in-the-uk/650857.article|access-date=2020-12-22|website=British Baker|language=en}} In May 2024, the UK partnership would then be transferred to EG On the Move.{{Cite web |last=Houlton |first=Cara |date=2024-05-20 |title=Zuber Issa to acquire EG Group's UK division - Grocery Gazette - Latest Grocery Industry News |url=https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2024/05/20/zuber-issa-acquire-eg-group/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |language=en-US}}

On October 8, 2018, Cinnabon partnered with Pizza Hut to release mini cinnamon rolls labeled "Cinnabon Mini Rolls" in Pizza Hut (also known as MiniBons outside of Pizza Hut). These cinnamon rolls continue to be available at Pizza Hut.{{Cite web |title=Pizza Hut Will Now Deliver Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls With Your Pizza Order |url=https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/pizza-hut-adds-cinnabon-cinnamon-rolls-to-menu |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Thrillist |date=October 8, 2018 |language=en}} In 2020, Pizza Hut brought back the Triple Treat Box, containing two medium one-topping pizzas, five breadsticks, and ten Cinnabon Mini Rolls.

International locations

[[File:Cinnabon world map.svg|thumb|Distribution of Cinnabon locations around the world

{{legend|#65cbc9ff|Countries with current Cinnabon locations}}

{{legend|#8ea0c1ff|Countries with former Cinnabon locations}}]]

=Current locations=

Cinnabon has franchise operations in 50 countries and places which include:

{{Div col}}

  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Australia{{cite news |last1=Barnsley |first1=Warren |title=Brisbane wins race for Australia's first Cinnabon, with store to open next month |url=https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/brisbane-wins-race-for-australias-first-cinnabon-with-store-to-open-next-month-c-565735 |access-date=28 December 2019 |agency=7News |date=20 November 2019}}
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Bolivia
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • China
  • Chile
  • Colombia{{Cite web|url=https://www.larepublica.co/empresas/regreso-de-cinnabon-a-colombia-3825231|title = Cinnabon returns to the Colombian market with its famous cinnamon rolls

|date = May 20, 2024

}}

  • Costa Rica
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic{{Cite web|url=https://www.retailguide.cz/twenty-five-new-brands-came-to-the-czech-market-last-year/|title = Twenty-five new brands came to the Czech market last year

|date = January 13, 2021

}}

  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • Georgia
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/news/american-chain-bakery-cinnabon-is-coming-to-hong-kong-010220|title = Cinnabon Hong Kong opens at Olympian City today!| date=February 7, 2020 }}
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Israel[https://www.koshernexus.org/2011/07/cinnabon-comes-to-israel/]
  • Iraq[https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2023/February/Cinnabon-opens-its-first-store-in-Iraq-ahead-of-fu/ Cinnabon opens its first store in Iraq]
  • Japan
  • Jordan{{cite web|url=http://www.jordansun.com/directory/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%8A-Coffee+shops/Cinnabon-.html|title=Cinnabon Branches, Amman, Jordan|work=Jordan Sun|access-date=January 29, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202054825/http://www.jordansun.com/directory/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%8A-Coffee+shops/Cinnabon-.html|url-status=dead}}
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait{{cite web |title=Cinnabon in kuwait Locations & Store Hours |url=http://www.mystore411.com/store/listing/110/kuwait/cinnabon-store-locations |website=www.mystore411.com}}
  • Libya (Cinnabon is noted for being the first U.S. franchise to open in Libya after the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.libyaherald.com/2012/12/29/tripolis-cinnabon-sales-on-a-sugar-high/ | title=Libya Herald: Tripoli's Cinnabon sales on a sugar high | access-date=January 3, 2013 |date=December 29, 2012}})
  • Malaysia
  • Malta{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepointmalta.com/stores/cinnabon|title = Cinnabon – the Point}}
  • Mexico
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Russia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore{{Cite news|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/world-famous-cinnamon-roll-chain-090058795.html|title=World's famous cinnamon roll chain, Cinnabon, to launch in Singapore next Feb 2023 at Raffles City|first=Juan|last=Sufyan|date=15 December 2022|newspaper=Yahoo! News|access-date=14 January 2023}}
  • South Africa
  • South Korea{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171108000734|title=US bakery Cinnabon taps Seoul market|date=November 8, 2017}}, The Korea Herald, Retrieved May 8, 2018
  • Spain
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom (Partnership with EG On the Move)
  • United States (including Puerto Rico and Guam)
  • Uzbekistan
  • Venezuela

=Former locations=

{{Div col end}}

{{center|{{gallery

|title=Other Cinnabon locations

|File:Cinnabon in Medina, Saudi Arabia.JPG

|Cinnabon (sīnābūn) in Saudi Arabia

|File:Cinnabon, Governor's Square.JPG

|Cinnabon at Governor's Square Mall, Clarksville, Tennessee

|File:CinnabonStore.jpg

|Cinnabon store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

|File:Angola Travel Plaza-08.jpg

|A Cinnabon store (right) at the Angola Travel Plaza on the New York Thruway, Angola, New York

|File:Cinnabon-tracy.jpg

|A Cinnabon store at West Valley Mall in Tracy, California

|File:Entrance of Stoa Korai Arcade 1938 in Athens.tif

|Cinnabon at the Stoa Korai Arcade Mall in Athens, Greece

|File:CaltexSanPedrojf4459 09.JPG

|Cinnabon in the Philippines

|File:Cinnabon, The Oaks Mall.JPG

|Cinnabon location at The Oaks Mall in Gainesville, Florida

}}}}

In popular culture

  • Cinnabon makes a brief appearance in the 2007 animated film Bee Movie.
  • Cinnabon is featured often in the book series Animorphs.
  • In Better Call Saul, Saul Goodman is seen working at a Cinnabon using a new identity.{{cite news |url=https://screenrant.com/better-call-saul-jimmy-gene-cinnabon-omaha-reason/ | title=Better Call Saul: Why Jimmy Is Working In A Cinnabon (As Gene) | date=March 10, 2024}}
  • The restaurant and its president, Kat Cole, were featured in a 2012 episode of Undercover Boss.{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2496636/ | title="Undercover Boss" Cinnabon Inc. (TV Episode 2012) | publisher=imdb.com | access-date=September 7, 2024}}
  • In episode Halloween IV of Brooklyn 99, Captain Raymond Holt refers to it as “See-nay-bone”.{{cite web |title=Brooklyn Nine-Nine Captain Holt Quote #7950 |url=https://theninenine.com/quotes/quote/7950/ |access-date=18 March 2025}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Cinnabon}}

  • [https://www.cinnabon.com/ Official website]
  • [https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2017/10/23/scents-from-a-mall-the-sticky-untold-story-of-cinnabon Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon] from Seattle Met

{{Focus Brands}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

{{Food chains in the United Kingdom}}

{{Portalbar|State of Georgia|Companies|Food}}

Category:Restaurants established in 1985

Category:American companies established in 1985

Category:1985 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Bakery cafés

Category:Fast-food chains of the United States

Category:Bakeries of the United States

Category:Companies based in Sandy Springs, Georgia

Category:Private equity portfolio companies

Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2004 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Fast-food franchises