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Cinnabon

Financing

Dave's Hot Chicken provides Roark Capital with some needed growth

 By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 04, 2025

The Bottom Line: More than half of the private-equity firm’s restaurant chains shrunk last year, including Arby’s, Subway and Sonic. And only six of its chains, not counting Dave’s, grew more than average.

Marketing

Here's why restaurant chains are selling one another's products

 By Peter Romeo on May 30, 2024

Restaurant Rewind: The lines between segments aren't the only traditional boundaries that are being smudged in today's competitive environment. Contrary to the old rules, concepts are tapping the drawing power of competitors for share of stomach.

Operations

Cinnabon and Carvel are about to have a baby

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 18, 2024

The new Cinnabon Swirl concept from GoTo Foods will debut in Hawaii this summer, with a second unit coming to Oregon. It's a mashup brand with its own identity as the multi-brand restaurant franchise platform promotes more co-branding.

Leadership

Focus Brands makes some senior leadership changes

By Jonathan Maze on May 18, 2022

Kerri Christian will oversee marketing for the company’s specialty category; Tracey Young was named chief brand officer for Cinnabon; Jim Salerno was given the same title with Carvel, where Jessica Osborne will be VP of marketing.

Leadership

Focus Brands names Tim Voss chief technology officer

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 21, 2022

The longtime executive will oversee technology at the owner of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba and other concepts.

Financing

Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s step out of the mall together

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 06, 2022

Parent company Focus Brands is using cobranding as it looks for different types of locations for its mall-focused concepts.

Leadership

Focus Brands names three new executives

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 20, 2021

The owner of Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s named Guillermo Cremer its new chief people officer and Joe Guith as head of its restaurant brands. Will Costello is a new procurement VP.

Financing

How Focus Brands plans to compete for the digital customer

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 05, 2021

Jim Holthouser, CEO of the owner of Cinnabon and Jamba, discusses how his company plans to take on aggregators to own the customer relationship.

Leadership

Heather Neary to leave Auntie Anne’s as parent Focus Brands overhauls management

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 18, 2020

Melissa Smith was named chief people officer for Focus; Kendall Ware was named chief brand officer of Carvel and Cinnabon; and Alisa Gmelich was named chief brand officer for Auntie Anne’s.

Leadership

Kat Cole to leave Cinnabon owner Focus Brands by the end of the year

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 09, 2020

The executive’s departure comes amid a host of changes at the Atlanta-based brand operator.

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