Auntie Anne's

Auntie Anne'sis an Americanfranchisedchain ofpretzelshops founded byAnne F. Beilerand her husband, Jonas, in 1988. Auntie Anne's serves products such as pretzels, dips, and beverages. They also offer Pretzels & More Homemade Baking Mix for those who want to make their pretzels at home.The chain has more than 1,200 stores around various locations, such as inshopping mallsand outlet malls, as well as non-traditional retail spaces including universities, parking/rest areas, airports, train stations, travel plazas,amusement parks, and military bases. Their slogan as of 2010 is "Pretzel Perfect".
The chain started as a market stand in theDowningtown, Pennsylvania, Farmer's Market in 1988. A second location opened inHarrisburg, Pennsylvaniaat theBroad Street Marketin 1988 before franchising.The franchise began when a store location opened at Saturday's Market inMiddletown, Pennsylvania. Auntie Anne's celebrated their 100th store opening inGranite Run Mall,Media, Pennsylvania, in 1992.In 1995, the first train station location opened atPenn StationinNew York City. This year also brought the opening of the first international Auntie Anne's store inJakarta,Indonesia.
In October 2006, it was announced that the Auntie Anne's corporate headquarters would be relocated from the town ofGap, Pennsylvania, to downtownLancaster.The former site of theLancaster Post Officewas purchased and given minor renovations for about $7 millionby Auntie Anne's, Inc. Constructed in 1927, the three-story building stands on about 1.5 acres (6,100 m). The building maintains the original 1920s features such as brass doors, high ceilings, and skylights.  The Lancaster Post Office was listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1982.
In November 2010, Atlanta franchisor Focus Brands (now known asGoTo Foods), a portfolio company ofprivate equity firmRoark Capital, acquired Auntie Anne's.William P. Dunn Jr. was the company's president and its chief operating officer from 2013 to 2015.Heather Leed Neary became the company's president in 2015.
Auntie Anne's now has over 600 international locations, including many acrossEurope, namely theUnited Kingdom.Locations inAsiaincludeBrunei,Cambodia,Hong Kong,India,Indonesia,Malaysia,Philippines,Egypt,Saudi Arabia,South Korea,Singapore,Taiwan,ThailandandVietnam, while in the Americas there are sites inCosta RicaandTrinidad and Tobago. There are plans to start stores inChina.
In overseas markets, the restaurants have made significant alterations to coexist with local sensibilities, including changing recipes to conform tohalalinMalaysia.
From 1999 through 2009, Auntie Anne's and its franchisees partnered to donate more than $4.5 million to local children's hospitals across the country through theChildren's Miracle Network. Auntie Anne's has also supported the pediatric cancer charityAlex's Lemonade Stand Foundationsince 2011.
Auntie Anne's began a partnership withFood Donation Connectionin 2011, matching stores throughout the country with local hunger relief organizations to donate extra pretzel products.
In 2013, Anne and Auntie Anne's was featured in thereality TV seriesFood Court Wars. Auntie Anne's founder Anne Beiler appeared in the 2013 season premier of the television showThe Secret Millionairein which she masqueraded as a volunteer at the Baltimore-based food non-profit organizationMoveable Feast. She also made a donation to the charity.
Anne Beiler's autobiography"Twist Of Faith: The Story of Anne Beiler, Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels"is currently being adapted into a feature film biopic, produced by Called Higher Studios and written by Mark Charran and Beth Goldberg.