Kickoff Event Hosted in Beijing at Xin Zhong Guan
October 08, 2008 // Franchising.com // Beijing, China - Auntie Anne's® Pretzels, best known for its hand-rolled soft pretzels, will officially open its first China franchise in Beijing by hosting a free pretzel kickoff event on Saturday, October 18, 2008. The store in Beijing brings the chain's worldwide presence to over 950 locations in 19 countries.
Auntie Anne's, which is located at the Xin Zhong Guan (The Gate) mall in the Haidian district is providing one free pretzel to every guest on Saturday, Oct. 18 between the hours of 2 to 6pm. In addition to the free pretzels, there are a variety of other activities for individuals to participate in. Children can learn the art of pretzel making by hands-on practice guided by rolling experts. Become a coffee connoisseur by taking a coffee appreciation class and discovering the distinguished flavor of Auntie Anne's coffee. Discover ways to help make positive changes in the community by joining in activities led by Roots & Shoots - Auntie Anne's China's community partner.
The warm, soft and airy interior texture of Auntie Anne's® pretzels is offered in a wide range of flavors, each rolled with a signature perfect pretzel knot and freshly baked in store. For example, guests can enjoy the simplicity of the classic Original or the sweet Cinnamon Sugar or Almond. Dipping sauces are available to pair with pretzel selections.
Three more locations are scheduled to open in Beijing before the end of the year, including locations at Grand Summit (on the East 3rd Ring road near the US embassy), Dongzhimen and Wangjing. A key location is planned for 2009 on Qianmen's pedestrian street. The stores will be opened by Beijing Pretzel Restaurant Co. Ltd, which is the master operator of the Auntie Anne's Pretzel's concept in China and Macau.
About Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's is a leader in the broader category of on-the-go snacks and its celebrating its 20th year in operation. In 2007, the company set record sales of $309 million and enjoyed a 10 percent increase in brand awareness thanks to a re-branding initiative it undertook in 2006 to reach new customers. The foundation of Auntie Anne's success lies in the collaborative partnership it enjoys with its franchisees.
Auntie Anne's mixes, twists, and bakes pretzels to golden brown perfection in full view of customers. The activity and aroma of fresh-from-the-oven pretzels makes visiting Auntie Anne's a requirement whenever one is near. All pretzels are baked with a guarantee, "if a customer does not love his or her pretzels, Auntie Anne's will replace it with one he or she does." Auntie Anne's also serves convenient Pretzel Stix, Pretzel Dogs, and its signature lemonade.
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