Auntie Anne's

World’s Largest Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzel

Founded in the US in 1988, Auntie Anne’s is the world’s largest soft pretzel franchise, operating more than 1,800 stores globally across over 25 countries. The brand entered the UK market in 2008 and has since grown to 34 retail bakery locations, selling sweet and savoury pretzels alongside drinks such as its signature lemonade.

The UK franchise model is premises-based – designed for high-footfall locations. Franchisees operate single units and are responsible for daily store management, staff supervision, stock control and customer service. Products are made from scratch on site, creating a visible production process that forms a key part of the brand’s customer experience.

Franchisees receive structured business and in-store training, followed by on-site opening support and ongoing assistance from the training and operations team. Ongoing support includes operational reviews, marketing support, supply chain access and performance monitoring to ensure consistency across the UK network.

Presentation

Type of business : Restaurant
Entry fee : 18,000
£
Personal contribution : 50,000
£
Total investment : 170,000
£
Average area : 60
ft²
Potential turnover after 2 years : 1,000,000
£
Training and support :
• Three days of structured business training delivered by the UK head office team, covering operations, marketing, HR and financial fundamentals 🥨
• Hands-on in-store training completed in an operational Auntie Anne’s location prior to opening, including pretzel production, food safety and day-to-day store management 🤝
• Ongoing operational support including launch assistance, follow-up store visits, marketing guidance, operational reviews and access to the national supply chain 📣
Desired profile :
Auntie Anne’s is looking for full-time, hands-on owner-operators who are entrepreneurial, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing a retail food business. Previous catering or retail experience is not required, but franchisees must be able to follow operational procedures precisely, manage staff, and understand basic performance. Strong people skills, commitment to day-to-day store operations, and the ability to work variable hours are essential.