The first Pretzelmaker franchised store in Mexico has opened, parent company NexCen Brands Inc. has announced. The store opened in the same mall as the recently opened Great American Cookies franchised store in Bosco Vallarta Zapopan in Jalisco.
This is the first Pretzelmaker store to open under an existing master franchise agreement signed in October 2008, which allows for a minimum of 15 Pretzelmaker stores and 30 Great American Cookies stores to be opened in Mexico over 15 years. The agreement calls for standalone and co-branded stores throughout the region.
Kenneth J. Hall, CEO of NexCen Brands, Inc., said, "We are delighted with the opening of this new franchised store in Mexico as it marks the launch of Pretzelmaker into a new country. While we are committed to growing our brands around the world, we also continue to make solid progress with the integration of Pretzel Time and Pretzelmaker into one brand, which will enable it to become the second largest pretzel concept in the United States." *Click here to view a slideshow of the Pretzel Time/Pretzelmaker rebranding effort.
Chris Dull, president of NexCen Franchise Management Inc., the franchising subsidiary of NexCen Brands, said, "By cross-selling our brands we are able to strengthen relationships with our franchisees and expand our footprint. With our franchisees operating both Pretzelmaker and Great American Cookies franchised stores at the La Gran Plaza Fashion Mall in Jalisco, we look forward to further developing these brands in Mexico."
Rival pretzel concept Auntie Anne's Pretzels opened its first store in Mexico in March in Parques Polanco, a new Mexico City shopping center.
