Focus Brands: sets sights on Europe

Atlanta / GA. (fb) «Highly anticipated location marks beginning of brand´s United Kingdom expansion plans», snack giant Focus Brands Inc. says and means: Cinnabon Inc. has opened its first U.K. bakery, located in London. Focus Brands is the franchisor and operator of over 2’200 ice cream stores, bakeries, restaurants and cafes in the United States and 32 foreign countries under the brand names «Carvel», «Cinnabon», «Schlotzky´s», «Moe´s Southwest Grill» and the franchisor of «Seattle´s Best Coffee» on military bases and in certain international markets.

«We are very excited that London and the United Kingdom represent significant development opportunities for the Cinnabon brand, and we look forward to introducing travellers, residents and mall shoppers and employees to the historical and wildly popular Piccadilly Circus to our extensive lines of delicious treats», said Rayhaan Hassim, principal owner of Cinnaworld Ltd., Cinnabon´s franchise partner in the United Kingdom. Cinnaworld has signed a master franchise agreement to open 40 Cinnabon bakeries in the United Kingdom; this organization also owns bakeries in South Africa under the Cinnabest Retail, Ltd. entity.

«We always have our eyes open for international opportunities, and when we can work with existing franchise partners to expand our presence in Europe and other regions abroad, that´s the frosting on the roll,” said Mike Shattuck, Senior Vice President of International Operations for FOCUS Brands Inc., parent company of Cinnabon. Added Steve Romaniello, president and CEO of FOCUS Brands, “Our first bakery in London is a great next step as we continue to expand the Cinnabon brand worldwide».

Founded in Seattle 1985 and now based in Atlanta, Cinnabon is the market leader among cinnamon roll bakeries. Cinnabon currently operates more than 700 franchised locations worldwide, primarily in high traffic venues such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, and travel plazas.