News

Focus Brands opens 1,500th international store

September 27, 2018

Multi-restaurant brand group Focus Brands has opened its 1,500th international location. The Auntie Anne's-branded unit, which is in Liverpool, joins the brand's more than 6,000 bakeries, restaurants, cafés and ice cream shops, a news release said. Focus Brands' family of restaurants include Cinnabon, Carvel, Jamba Juice, Schlotzsky's, Moe's Southwest Grill and Seattle's Best Coffee in certain international markets. 

"We are thrilled that our new Auntie Anne's opened in Liverpool One Shopping Centre. It's the largest outdoor shopping mall in the United Kingdom, and the perfect place to enjoy everyone's favorite soft pretzel brand," Auntie Anne's Licensee Robert Burton, said in the release. "Since we opened with our sub-franchisee Pretzel Perfect Ltd in August, we have seen strong initial sales and heard great customer feedback. We look forward to continuing our development journey with our sub-franchise partners in the United Kingdom and Ireland."

Auntie Anne's first international location opened in 1995, in Indonesia, and its largest international presence is in South Korea. Cinnabon's first international store opened in 1988, in Canada is also building a presence in the United Kingdom.

"We are really excited to celebrate the opening of our 1,500th international location, an important milestone as we continue to expand our global presence," Vice President/Managing Director EUMEA at Focus Brands Kagan Sanli, said in the release. 

Focus Brands has an international presence in more than 55 countries and regions, including locations in the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Middle East and South Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe. The company has opened more than 100 international locations this year.