Craveworthy Brands has acquired another concept—the second to be announced in about a week.
Kinnamōns, an indulgent Portland, Oregon-based cinnamon roll concept owned by Super Bowl champion Ndamukong Suh, will join the growing Craveworthy Brands portfolio as a franchise brand, the company said Tuesday.
This news comes eight days after the announcement that Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken concept was joining Craveworthy’s franchise lineup, and that Suh has become an investor in that partnership.
Suh is an NFL defensive linesman who has played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins, though he’s currently a free agent.
Suh is originally from Portland, Oregon, and is also an entrepreneur and investor in broad segments, from crypto to real estate.
He is also involved with the restaurant brands Blue Sushi Sake Grill, which is part of the Flagship Restaurant Group; as well as the Los Angeles-based chain Pizzana; and the two-unit BAE’s Fried Chicken in Portland, according to a spokesperson.
But Suh told CNBC, “I am not an operator.” That’s why he has partnered with Craveworthy’s Gregg Majewski to take on that aspect of his investments.
“When it comes to operations, you want to have those experts who are on your side, and we spent months together before working on deals,” Suh said in the CNBC interview.
Craveworthy has become quite a collection of franchise brands, from Bd’s Mongolian Grill and Fresh Brothers Pizza, to Taim Mediterranean Kitchen and Budlong Southern Chicken. With Kinnamōns, there are 16 brands in the portfolio, including another sweet-treat chain: Dirty Dough cookies.
Kinnamōns—the name is a twist on the Greek word for cinnamon—was founded by restaurateur Micah Camden in Portland in 2022, with Suh as an investor, offering elevated cinnamon rolls topped with various glazes, icing and other flavors. Camden also created the BAE’s chicken concept.
Majewski said the two-unit BAE's Fried Chicken is also now owned by Craveworthy as part of the deal with Suh, as is another two-unit concept in Portland called Fat Kitty Ramen. There are no plans to franchise BAE's, Majewski said, but the ramen concept will be up for franchising down the road.
On the menu at Kinnamōns are rolls with flavors like Caramel Apple Pie, Maple Bacon and Cookies and Cream. The concept also offers a coffee lineup.
There are two Kinnamons bakeries in Portland, but the partnership with Craveworthy will open the brand to franchising nationally.
Majewski said the baking segment is seeing incredible demand for gourmet, hand-crafted innovations.
“We recognize Kinnamōns as a concept that blends nostalgic and modern tastes, and a founding team that understands brand-building on a genuine level, making it the right addition to our portfolio,” Majewski said, in a statement. “Our goal is to introduce Kinnamons to new markets and preserve the artistry that makes it so exceptional.”
UPDATE: This article has been updated with new information from Craveworthy.
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