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{{short description|American baked goods store chain}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Cinnabon, Inc.
| logo = Cinnabon logo.svg
| image = Cinnabon.jpg
| image_caption = Cinnabon mall bakery location in [[Moscow]], Russia (2019)
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1985}} in [[Federal Way, Washington|Federal Way]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| location_city = [[Sandy Springs, Georgia]]
| location_country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Tracey Young ([[Chief Brand Officer]])
| industry = [[Restaurant]]s [[Franchising]]
| products = [[Cinnamon roll]]s<br>[[Coffee]]<br>[[Churro]]s<br>[[Milkshake]]s
| parent = [[Popeyes|AFC Enterprises]] (1998–2004)<br>[[GoTo Foods]] (2004–present)
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.cinnabon.com/}}
}}

'''Cinnabon, Inc.''', is an American chain of [[baked goods]] stores and kiosks, normally found in areas with high pedestrian traffic such as malls, airports and rest stops. The company's signature item is the [[cinnamon roll]]. As of December 2017, there were more than 1,200 Cinnabon bakeries operating in 48 countries.<ref>[https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2017/10/23/scents-from-a-mall-the-sticky-untold-story-of-cinnabon Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon]. Seattle Met, Retrieved 12 December 2017</ref> Its headquarters are in [[Sandy Springs, Georgia]], United States.<ref name="HQ">"[http://www.cinnabon.com/media/Cinnabon_Press_Kit.pdf Cinnabon At-A-Glance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017111607/http://www.cinnabon.com/media/Cinnabon_Press_Kit.pdf |date=October 17, 2006}}." Cinnabon. Retrieved on February 25, 2010.</ref><ref name="Sandymap">"[http://files.sandysprings-ga.org/maps/SandySprings_CouncilDistricts.pdf City Council Districts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117135736/http://files.sandysprings-ga.org/maps/SandySprings_CouncilDistricts.pdf |date=January 17, 2010}}." City of Sandy Springs. Retrieved on July 4, 2009.</ref>

The company is co-owned&mdash;with [[Schlotzsky's]], [[Carvel (restaurant)|Carvel]], [[Moe's Southwest Grill]], [[McAlister's Deli]], [[Jamba Juice|Jamba]], and [[Auntie Anne's]] brands&mdash;by [[GoTo Foods]] (formerly Focus Brands), an affiliate of private equity firm [[Roark Capital Group]],<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04EED71730F93AA3575AC0A9629C8B63  Focus Brands To Buy Cinnabon From AFC Enterprises].  New York Times, September 9, 2004</ref> based in [[Sandy Springs, Georgia]], operating over 5,000 stores.

==History==
[[File:Cinnamon roll-Cinnabon.jpg|thumb|A Cinnabon cinnamon roll in a to-go box]]
The idea for Cinnabon emerged in 1985 after Rich Komen, majority owner of [[Restaurants Unlimited Inc|Restaurants Unlimited]], observed the commercial success of [[T.J. Cinnamons]], a bakery based in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], that specialized in cinnamon rolls. T.J. Cinnamon's popularity prompted Komen to explore the possibility of franchising the concept on the West Coast. Komen attempted to negotiate franchising rights for T.J. Cinnamon's but was unable to secure an agreement granting exclusive rights for the region. He then explored a partnership with Mrs. Powell's, a bakery in Idaho Falls, Idaho, also known for its cinnamon rolls, but this effort too failed to result in a franchise agreement.<ref name="Vermillion 2017">{{cite web |last=Vermillion |first=Allecia |title=Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon |website=Seattle Met |date=October 23, 2017 |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2017/10/scents-from-a-mall-the-sticky-untold-story-of-cinnabon |access-date=April 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Clifton 2023">{{cite web |last=Clifton |first=Pamela |title=Simply Sweet: Missouri's surprising cinnamon roll heritage |website=Missouri Life |date=November 24, 2023 |url=https://missourilife.com/simply-sweet-missouris-surprising-cinnamon-roll-heritage/ |access-date=April 17, 2025}}</ref>

Having already secured a lease for a retail space in [[The Commons at Federal Way|SeaTac Mall]] in [[Federal Way, Washington]], Komen and Ray Lindstrom, the then Restaurants Unlimited CEO, proceeded to develop an original bakery concept. To create their signature product, they collaborated with Jerilyn Brusseau, a baker from Seattle, who was tasked with developing a cinnamon roll recipe. The first Cinnabon bakery opened on December 4, 1985, in SeaTac Mall,  now called The Commons at Federal Way.<ref name="Vermillion 2017"/><ref name="Clifton 2023"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinnabon Company |url=https://www.cinnabon.com/company-info |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Cinnabon |language=en-US}}</ref> Cinnabon's original business strategy emphasized a specialized focus on its signature product, cinnamon rolls, which were prominently branded as "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls" and became central to the company's brand identity.<ref name="Vermillion 2017"/><ref name="Clifton 2023"/>

Cinnabon's first franchise-operated store opened in August 1986 just outside of Philadelphia at the [[King of Prussia (shopping mall)|King of Prussia Mall]]. Cinnabon stores today can also be found in gas stations, universities, [[rapid transit]] stations, casinos, and amusement parks.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Cinnabon was bought by [[AFC Enterprises|AFC Enterprises, Inc.]] in 1998 for $65 million.<ref name="afc">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/19/business/company-news-afc-enterprises-to-purchase-cinnabon-international.html |title=NY Times: AFC Enterprises to Purchase Cinnabon International |access-date=July 1, 2009 |date=August 19, 1998 | work=The New York Times}}</ref> In 2004, [[AFC Enterprises|AFC Enterprises, Inc.]], sold Cinnabon for $30.3 million to [[Focus Brands|Focus Brands, Inc.]], which is owned by the [[Atlanta]]-based [[private equity firm]] [[Roark Capital Group]].<ref name="focus">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04EED71730F93AA3575AC0A9629C8B63&scp=3&sq=cinnabon&st=cse |title=NY Times: Focus Brands to Buy Cinnabon from AFC Enterprises |access-date=July 1, 2009 |date=September 9, 2004 | work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roarkcapital.com/portfolio-companies.php|title=Roark Capital Group :: Portfolio Companies|work=roarkcapital.com|access-date=July 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709091816/http://www.roarkcapital.com/portfolio-companies.php|archive-date=July 9, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The headquarters moved to [[Greater Atlanta]] in 1999.<ref name="HQ"/> In November 2020, British retail group [[EG Group]] announced a partnership with Cinnabon to open 150 branded stores in the UK over five years.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-30|title=EG Group to Open 150 Cinnabon® Bakeries Across the UK Under New Master Licensee Deal|url=https://uk.eurogarages.com/company-news-fuel-retailers-join-forces/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Euro Garages|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gilbert |first=Helen |date=2020-11-30 |title=Cinnabon to open 150 sites in the UK|url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/retail/cinnabon-to-open-150-sites-in-the-uk/650857.article|access-date=2020-12-22|website=British Baker}}</ref> In May 2024, the UK partnership would then be transferred to [[EG On the Move]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Houlton |first=Cara |date=2024-05-20 |title=Zuber Issa to acquire EG Group's UK division - Grocery Gazette - Latest Grocery Industry News |url=https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2024/05/20/zuber-issa-acquire-eg-group/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 8, 2018, Cinnabon partnered with [[Pizza Hut]] to release mini cinnamon rolls labeled "Cinnabon Mini Rolls" in Pizza Hut (also known as MiniBons outside of Pizza Hut). These cinnamon rolls continue to be available at Pizza Hut.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pizza Hut Will Now Deliver Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls With Your Pizza Order |url=https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/pizza-hut-adds-cinnabon-cinnamon-rolls-to-menu |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Thrillist |date=October 8, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, Pizza Hut brought back the Triple Treat Box, containing two medium one-topping pizzas, five breadsticks, and ten Cinnabon Mini Rolls.

==International locations==
[[File:Cinnabon world map.svg|thumb|Distribution of Cinnabon locations around the world    
{{legend|#65cbc9ff|Countries with current Cinnabon locations}}     
{{legend|#8ea0c1ff|Countries with former Cinnabon locations}}]]
===Current locations===
Cinnabon has franchise operations in 50 countries and places which include:
{{Div col}}
* [[Armenia]]
* [[Aruba]]
* [[Australia]]<ref name="7newsopen">{{cite news |last1=Barnsley |first1=Warren |title=Brisbane wins race for Australia's first Cinnabon, with store to open next month |url=https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/brisbane-wins-race-for-australias-first-cinnabon-with-store-to-open-next-month-c-565735 |access-date=28 December 2019 |agency=7News |date=20 November 2019}}</ref>
* [[Azerbaijan]]
* [[Bahrain]]
* [[Bangladesh]]
* [[Belarus]]
* [[Bolivia]]
* [[Cambodia]] 
* [[Canada]] 
* [[China]] 
* [[Chile]] 
* [[Colombia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.larepublica.co/empresas/regreso-de-cinnabon-a-colombia-3825231|trans-title = Cinnabon returns to the Colombian market with its famous cinnamon rolls
|date = May 20, 2024|title=Cinnabon regresa junto con sus famosos rollos de canela al mercado colombiano|language=es|author-first1=Diego Alejandro|author-last1=Ospina Henao}}</ref>
* [[Costa Rica]]
* [[Cyprus]]
* [[Czech Republic]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retailguide.cz/twenty-five-new-brands-came-to-the-czech-market-last-year/|title = Twenty-five new brands came to the Czech market last year
|date = January 13, 2021
}}</ref> 
* [[Dominican Republic]]
* [[Ecuador]]
* [[Egypt]]
* [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
* [[Greece]]
* [[Guatemala]]
* [[Guyana]]
* [[Honduras]]
* [[Hong Kong]]<ref>{{Cite web| last1=Leung | first1=Jenny |url=https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/news/american-chain-bakery-cinnabon-is-coming-to-hong-kong-010220|title = Cinnabon Hong Kong opens at Olympian City today!| work=Time Out Hong Kong | date=February 7, 2020 }}</ref> 
* [[India]]
* [[Indonesia]]
* [[Israel]]<ref>{{cite web | title=CINNABON COMES TO ISRAEL &#124; Kosher Nexus | date=July 15, 2011 | url=https://www.koshernexus.org/2011/07/cinnabon-comes-to-israel/ }}</ref>
* [[Iraq]]<ref>[https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2023/February/Cinnabon-opens-its-first-store-in-Iraq-ahead-of-fu/ Cinnabon opens its first store in Iraq]</ref>
* [[Japan]]
* [[Jordan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jordansun.com/directory/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%8A-Coffee+shops/Cinnabon-.html|title=Cinnabon Branches, Amman, Jordan|work=Jordan Sun|access-date=January 29, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202054825/http://www.jordansun.com/directory/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%8A-Coffee+shops/Cinnabon-.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Kazakhstan]]
* [[Kenya]]
* [[Kuwait]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinnabon in kuwait Locations & Store Hours |url=http://www.mystore411.com/store/listing/110/kuwait/cinnabon-store-locations |website=www.mystore411.com}}</ref>
* [[Libya]] (Cinnabon is noted for being the first U.S. franchise to open in Libya after the [[Death of Muammar Gaddafi|ouster of Muammar Gaddafi]] in 2011.<ref name="libya">{{cite news |url=http://www.libyaherald.com/2012/12/29/tripolis-cinnabon-sales-on-a-sugar-high/ | title=Libya Herald: Tripoli's Cinnabon sales on a sugar high | access-date=January 3, 2013 |date=December 29, 2012}}</ref>)
* [[Malaysia]]
* [[Malta]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepointmalta.com/stores/cinnabon|title = Cinnabon – the Point}}</ref>
* [[Mexico]]
* [[Nepal]]
* [[Netherlands]]                      
* [[New Zealand]]
* [[Oman]]
* [[Pakistan]]
* [[Panama]]
* [[Peru]]
* [[Philippines]]
* [[Qatar]]  
* [[Russia]]
* [[Saudi Arabia]]
* [[Singapore]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/world-famous-cinnamon-roll-chain-090058795.html|title=World's famous cinnamon roll chain, Cinnabon, to launch in Singapore next Feb 2023 at Raffles City|first=Juan|last=Sufyan|date=15 December 2022|newspaper=[[Yahoo! News]]|access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref>
* [[South Africa]]
* [[South Korea]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171108000734|title=US bakery Cinnabon taps Seoul market|date=November 8, 2017}}, The Korea Herald, Retrieved May 8, 2018</ref>
* [[Spain]]
* [[Thailand]]
* [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Turkey]]
* [[Ukraine]]
* [[United Arab Emirates]]
* [[United States]] (including [[Puerto Rico]] and [[Guam]])
* [[Uruguay]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://america-retail.com/paises/uruguay/cinnabon-llega-a-uruguay-con-su-sabor-unico-y-tradicion-internacional/|title=Cinnabon llega a Uruguay con su sabor único y tradición internacional|date=December 16, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Uzbekistan]]
* [[Venezuela]]

===Former locations===
* [[Austria]]
* [[Brunei]]
* [[Brazil]] (A store was set up in São Paulo in 2009, which soon closed in 2011.)
* [[El Salvador]]
* [[Finland]] (One outlet opened in March 2015, but it was closed in March 2016)
* [[Israel]] (Closed in August 2016)
* [[Jamaica]]
* [[Latvia]]
* [[Lebanon]] (Closed in 2020)
* [[Morocco]]
* [[Paraguay]]
* [[Poland]] (Closed in March 2021)
* [[Romania]] (Closed in 2018)
* [[Sweden]] (Closed in November 2020)
* [[Syria]]
* [[United Kingdom]] (Partnership with [[EG On the Move]] Closed in September 2025)
{{Div col end}}

{{center|{{gallery
|title=Other Cinnabon locations
|File:Cinnabon in Medina, Saudi Arabia.JPG
|Cinnabon (''sīnābūn'') in Saudi Arabia
|File:Cinnabon, Governor's Square.JPG
|Cinnabon at [[Governor's Square Mall]], [[Clarksville, Tennessee]]
|File:CinnabonStore.jpg
|Cinnabon store in [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada
|File:Angola Travel Plaza-08.jpg
|A Cinnabon store (right) at the Angola Travel Plaza on the [[New York Thruway]], [[Angola, New York]]
|File:Cinnabon-tracy.jpg
|A Cinnabon store at [[West Valley Mall]] in [[Tracy, California]]
|File:Entrance of Stoa Korai Arcade 1938 in Athens.tif
|Cinnabon at the Stoa Korai Arcade Mall in [[Athens, Greece]]
|File:CaltexSanPedrojf4459 09.JPG
|Cinnabon in the Philippines 
|File:Cinnabon, The Oaks Mall.JPG
|Cinnabon location at [[The Oaks Mall]] in [[Gainesville, Florida]]
}}}}

==In popular culture==
*Cinnabon makes a brief appearance in the 2007 animated film ''Bee Movie''.
*Cinnabon is featured often in the book series ''[[Animorphs]]''.
*In each season open of ''[[Better Call Saul]]'', as well as in season 6, a mustached glasses wearing [[Saul Goodman]] is seen in flash forward black and white sequences working as a manager at Cinnabon inside a shopping mall in [[Omaha, Nebraska]] using a new identity and goes by the name "Gene Takovic".<ref name="better-call-saul">{{cite news |url=https://screenrant.com/better-call-saul-jimmy-gene-cinnabon-omaha-reason/ | title=Better Call Saul: Why Jimmy Is Working In A Cinnabon (As Gene) | website= [[ScreenRant]] |date=March 10, 2024}}</ref>
*The restaurant and its president, [[Kat Cole]], were featured in a 2012 episode of ''[[Undercover Boss (American TV series)|Undercover Boss]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2496636/ | title="Undercover Boss" Cinnabon Inc. (TV Episode 2012) | publisher=imdb.com | access-date=September 7, 2024}}</ref>
* In episode [[Halloween IV (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)|Halloween IV]] of ''[[Brooklyn 99]]'', [[Raymond Holt (character)|Captain Raymond Holt]] refers to it as “See-nay-bone”.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brooklyn Nine-Nine Captain Holt Quote #7950 |url=https://theninenine.com/quotes/quote/7950/ |access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of bakery cafés]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cinnabon}}
* [https://www.cinnabon.com/ Official website]
* [https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2017/10/23/scents-from-a-mall-the-sticky-untold-story-of-cinnabon Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon] from Seattle Met

{{Focus Brands}}
{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}
{{Food chains in the United Kingdom}}
{{Food chains in the Philippines}}
{{Portalbar|State of Georgia|Companies|Food}}

[[Category:Restaurants established in 1985]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1985]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Bakery cafés]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Bakeries of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Sandy Springs, Georgia]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2004 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Fast-food franchises]]