Wetzel's Pretzels

{{Infobox company

| name = Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise, LLC

| image = Wetzel's Pretzels - Tysons Corner Mall (6923513884).jpg

| image_caption = Wetzel's Pretzels, Tysons Corner Center

| trade_name = Wetzel's Pretzels

| logo = Wetzel's Pretzels logo.png

| logo_size = 200px

| type = Subsidiary

| genre = Quick service

| industry = Food and beverage
Pretzel Shop

| foundation = {{start date and age|1994}}
South Bay Galleria, Redondo Beach, California, U.S.

| founder = Rick Wetzel
Bill Phelps

| location_city = Pasadena, California

| locations = 370

| num_locations_year = 2023

| key_people = Jennifer Schuler, CEO

| products =

| revenue = US$245 million (US, 2022)

| num_employees = 2,000 (2021)

| parent = {{ubl|Independent (1994–2007)|Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Inc. (2007–2016)|CenterOak Partners LLC (2016–2022)|MTY Food Group (2022-present)}}

| subsid =

| footnotes =

| location_country = US

| homepage = {{URL|wetzels.com}}

}}

Wetzel's Pretzels is an American chain of fast-food restaurants, specializing in pretzels and hot dogs. The chain has more than 370 locations across the United States, Canada and Central America, as well as formerly in Finland, mostly located in shopping malls, airports, theme parks, and stadiums; plus, as of recently, food trucks.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-02 |title=Wetzel's Pretzels |url=https://www.wetzels.com/home |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=www.wetzels.com |language=en}} The company is headquartered in Pasadena, California.

History

Wetzel's Pretzels was founded in 1994 by Rick Wetzel and Bill Phelps in Pasadena, California. The chain's first location opened that year at the South Bay Galleria in nearby Redondo Beach. Its name was inspired by childhood taunts used by Wetzel's classmates.{{cite web |last=Surdin |first=Ashley |date=2007-02-01 |title=Wetzel's is sold -- to let even more dough roll in |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-01-fi-wetzel1-story.html |access-date=8 November 2014 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

In 1997, Wetzel and Phelps took on multiple investors, including John Davis and Gary L. Wilson. Wilson's connections to Disney paved the way for the chain to open locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Los Angeles-based private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Inc. bought a majority stake in the company in 2007 for an undisclosed amount. Phelps still owns a 20% share, while Wetzel holds a smaller stake.{{cite web |title=Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Acquires Wetzel's Pretzels |url=http://www.llcp.com/about_news_llcp_acquires_wetzels.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617202614/https://www.llcp.com/about_news_llcp_acquires_wetzels.html |archive-date=2009-06-17 |access-date=8 November 2014 |website=Levine Leichtman Capital Partners}}

In October 2016, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners sold majority stake to Dallas-based private equity firm CenterOak Partners LLC. after holding the majority stake for 9 years.{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2016 |title=CenterOak Partners Acquires Wetzel's Pretzels |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160902005644/en/CenterOak-Partners-Acquires-Wetzel%E2%80%99s-Pretzels |website=Business Wire}}

In 2019, Phelps was succeeded as CEO by Jennifer Schuler.{{Cite web |last=Schouten |first=Rebekah |date=2019-01-31 |title=Wetzel's Pretzels names new leader |url=https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/47907-wetzels-pretzels-names-new-leader |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Baking Business |language=en}}

In December, 2022 Wetzel's Pretzels was acquired by MTY Food Group for $207 million.{{Cite web |last=Maze |first=Jonathan |date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |title=MTY Food Group Completes its Acquisition of Wetzel's Pretzels |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/mty-food-group-completes-its-acquisition-wetzels-pretzels |website=Restaurant Business}}

=Food=

Wetzel's menu is centered around its namesake pretzels along with hot dogs and lemonade. Their signature pretzels come in various flavors such as the Wetzel's Original (salted or unsalted), cinnamon sugar, pepperoni and more. Guests can also choose Bitz, more snackable pretzel bites, available in Original, Cinn-a-bitz or Pizza Bitz (with pepperoni). Other pretzel items range from the full-sized Wetzel Dog, an all-beef hot dog wrapped in pretzel or Dog Bites and Cheesy Dog Bites, the bite-sized iteration.

=Beverages=

Wetzel's is known for its fresh and frozen lemonades, which are available in original and strawberry flavors. They also offer a variety of other drinks such as granitas and were the first restaurant in the snack category to introduce boba popping pearls to the menu, with flavors like Cherry and Mango.