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Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Moe's Southwest Grill® Marks 25th Anniversary with Four Straight Years of Growth
Brand Achieves $1.24M* Average Unit Volume, Fueling Performance Surge with Rebel Spirit and Strategic Innovations ATLANTA, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Moe's Southwest Grill ®, one of the seven iconic brands within the GoTo Foods platform company, proudly announces a record-breaking average unit volume (AUV) of $1,235,422* in 2024, showcasing four consecutive years of growth. Celebrating the brand's 25th anniversary with serious momentum, Moe's success is driven by strategic initiatives in franchise development, culinary innovation and expanded loyalty programs. Under the recent leadership of Chief Brand Officer Mike Smith , appointed in October 2024, Moe's continues to revolutionize the fast-casual Mexican dining space with bold flavors and a rebellious spirit. Key Initiatives Driving Significant Brand Evolution Strengthening Franchise Development: Over the past year, Moe's opened 15 new locations across the country. With more than 120 signed agreements in various stages of development, the franchise pipeline is packed with opportunity – proving that entrepreneurs are eager to invest in a brand with strong consumer demand and a winning business model. Driving Culinary Innovation: Moe's relentless focus on culinary creativity has led to top-performing LTOs, showcasing its reputation for providing the most flavorful menu options in the QSR Mexican sector. Expanding Rewards Programs: With over seven million Moe Rewards members, Moe's expanded loyalty program keeps customers coming back for bold flavors and exclusive perks. Elevating Guest Experience: Moe's continues to focus on refreshing and modernizing the look of the brand to enhance the guest experience and drive bottom line results. Prototypical updates will continue throughout 2025, with locations seeing, on average, a double-digit increase in sales post-remodel. 'As we celebrate 25 years in the fast casual business, we are leading Moe's into a new era of growth,' said Smith. 'By harnessing our rebel spirit brand positioning and strategically investing in culinary innovation, guest experience and franchise development, we are positioning Moe's for sustained success. Our unwavering commitment to unparalleled flavor, a welcoming atmosphere, and continuous improvement will drive our brand forward and create lasting value for our franchisees and customers alike.' Unlocking Sales Growth Through Menu Innovation Moe's remains steadfast in its mission to feed the rebel spirit in everyone. From 20+ fresh and free ingredients to a menu that champions customization, Moe's offers a vibrant dining experience unmatched in the Mexican fast-casual space. The brand's LTO strategy saw unprecedented success in 2024, with standout launches like Birria and Tequila Lime Chicken – the most successful LTOs since 2019. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Moe's unleashed its Eat Out Loud campaign, embracing boldness in every flavor, dish and interaction. Throughout the year, guests can expect a lineup of vibrant LTOs, in-house prepared salsas plus seasonal salsas and exclusive collaborations such as 2024's standout collaborations with Cheez-It and Mike's Hot Honey – marking a first for any Mexican fast-casual brand. The recently launched Munchies® Flamin' Hot® Snack Mix collaboration sets the stage for creativity to come. Moe Rewards 2.0: Driving Franchise Success and Consumer Engagement To better reward loyal fans, Moe's is remastering the Moe Rewards program to the tune of more exclusive offers, a faster track to earn redeemable rewards and new premium reward tiers. Exclusive Perks: Moe Rewards members unlock exclusive access to special loyalty-only deals on fan favorites and LTOs, while also benefiting from weekly Moe Monday offers. Fast Path to Rewards: Just $25 in spend now earns loyalty members a reward, incentivizing everyone from weekly regulars to lower frequency guests. New Premium Reward Tier: For the most loyal burrito lovers, the new Gold Tier recognizes top guests with 20% faster reward accrual after they earn 1250 points in a calendar year. These enhancements are designed to benefit franchisees by driving consumer engagement and unit-level economics. Fueling Franchise Development Moe's Southwest Grill is offering limited-time incentives on commitments of 3 or more Franchise Agreements executed through December 15th, 2025, in select Emerging Markets. With opportunities for development in both traditional and non-traditional venues, including military bases, airports, and travel centers, the brand aims to strategically build density in existing markets while expanding its national footprint into 21 Emerging Markets — including Arizona, Arkansas, Southern California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin. This targeted approach positions Moe's for sustained growth and reinforces its commitment to bringing its signature 'Welcome to Moe's!' hospitality to every corner of the country, ensuring a robust and dynamic presence nationwide. About Moe's Southwest Grill® Welcome to Moe's!® Founded in 2000 and based in Atlanta, GA, Moe's Southwest Grill® is a fast-casual restaurant franchise that serves high quality and fresh southwestern food. Moe's has an extensive variety of menu items to please the entire family – from bowls and burritos to specialty items like quesadillas, nachos and stacks. As of March 30, 2025, Moe's Southwest Grill had approximately 580 locations, and select locations offer catering and free chips and salsa with orders. Join Moe's Rewards for exclusive perks. Check us out online at to find a store near you, and then connect with us on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok and X . About GoTo Foods Atlanta-based platform company GoTo Foods (formerly known as Focus Brands) is a leading developer of global multi-channel foodservice brands. As of March 30, 2025, GoTo Foods, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of over 6,900 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shoppes and bakeries in all 50 states and over 65 countries and territories under the Auntie Anne's®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, Moe's Southwest Grill®, McAlister's Deli® and Schlotzsky's® brand names, as well as the Seattle's Best Coffee® brand on certain military bases and in certain international markets. The iconic GoTo Foods brands benefit from strong enterprise growth engines, including marketing, digital, technology and franchise sales & development to propel growth and brand performance. Please visit and connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more. GoTo Foods is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work®, the most definitive 'employer-of-choice' recognition, and the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience for the second consecutive year. * Average net sales in our 2024 fiscal year for 485 franchises that operated throughout such fiscal year in traditional locations (out of 502 franchises in traditional locations and 591 total franchises that were operating as of 12/29/24). See Item 19 of our March 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional details. Some outlets have earned this amount, but your results may differ. This information is not intended as an offer to sell a franchise. We will not offer you a franchise until we have complied with disclosure and registration requirements in your jurisdiction. Contact Moe's Franchisor SPV LLC, located at 5620 Glenridge Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30342, to request a copy of our FDD. RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK: This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by a prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the New York Department of Law. RESIDENTS OF MINNESOTA: MN Franchise Registration Numbers: Moe's Franchisor SPV LLC: F-8188. Media Contact: Kelly Hammond, Fishman PR, 843-858-2069, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Moe's Southwest Grill
CNN
08-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
Cinnabon's new store is made for Gen Z
Cinnabon is facing an existential threat as it turns 40: How does a chain that's become synonymous with the food court evolve when fewer malls are being built? GoTo Foods, Cinnabon's parent company, isn't looking too far for a solution. Next month, Cinnabon is opening a first-of-its-kind location with sister brand Carvel that mashes up Cinnabon's hot and gooey cinnamon rolls with Carvel's ice creams for a selection of desserts. 'We took this concept to a very broad swath of consumers early on (and we) got this ringing endorsement from about 80% of the US population,' Jim Holthouser, CEO of GoTo Foods, told CNN. The concept is largely aimed at attracting Gen Z and Millennial eaters, who 'definitely have a desire for unique indulgent experiences.' He describes the indulgence as 'little treat culture,' a reference to a popular social media trend among younger consumers purchasing small, affordable sweets or items as a reward for mundane daily tasks. The menu at 'Cinnabon Swirl' is designed for the TikTok audience, where unique foods are often brought to the top of people's algorithms and become viral sensations. GoTo Foods hopes it will draw in customers as mall foot traffic has stagnated in recent years and traditional food courts have disappeared in favor of more upscale options. For starters, there's the 'Bonini,' a cinnamon roll warmed in a panini press, sliced in half and filled with ice cream. Then there's the 'Cinnabon Swirl Sundae,' which features the sweet center of a cinnamon roll as its base and topped with soft serve ice cream. Rounding out the menu are ice cream sandwiches served with Cinnabon-inspired cookies and Carvel-influenced toppings, like sprinkles or cookie bits. A small selection of Carvel and Cinnabon staples served at their standalone locations — cakes, ice cream and cinnamon rolls — are also on sale. GoTo Foods franchises their brands, which also includes Auntie Anne's, Jamba, and Schlotzsky's. Pitching owners to invest in an unproven concept is often met with hesitancy. However, 'Cinnabon Swirl' was an instant hit, Holthouser said. 'We really had no problem signing people up, which is a little unusual,' he admitted. 'Usually when new brands are birthed, a lot of owners are going to sit on the sidelines to make sure that things kind of work out the way they think.' The first 'Cinnabon Swirl' opens in May in Oregon, with another three opening by the end of this year in Peoria, Arizona; Kennesaw, Georgia; and Pasadena, California. An additional 30 locations are slated to open in 2026. Unlike other mashups, most recently Dine Brands' Applebee's-IHOP restaurant, the Carvel brand wasn't included in the name, although its colors and logos are featured in the store. The concept 'leads with' Cinnabon 'simply because that's most known to consumers,' with Cinnabon having about 2,000 locations globally. That massively dwarfs Carvel's roughly 400 stores, which are predominantly in the US northeast, Holthouser said. GoTo Foods has built up its portfolio with smaller, niche brands that largely depend on foot traffic, attracting customers as they are out shopping or traveling. That means the economics of their restaurants are not as sustainable as standalone locations. One way it's trying to solve that problem is by opening more co-branding locations, emulating the success it's seen with plugging Auntie Anne's into Jamba and Cinnabon locations. For example, an Auntie Anne's 'works all day long in a mall,' but it doesn't make enough money to 'justify the rents' of a standalone location, Holthauser said. But when an Auntie Anne's together with a Cinnabon or Jamba is combined, profitability improves. 'If I want to keep these brands going, keep the stories going and be able to serve consumers, I've got to find other ways of building distribution for these brands,' Holthouser admitted. Experimenting with dual-branded locations is a focus for GoTo Foods, with the goal being to 'drive efficiencies and unit-level productivity by focusing on best sellers at each chain,' noted David Henkes, a senior principal at Technomic, a restaurant research firm. 'I'd liken it to a greatest hits compilation from both chains — taking the things that work best and removing menu items that perhaps don't resonate as much,' he told CNN. Both Cinnabon and Carvel could use a jolt of sugar, too: Cinnabon sales declined 0.5% last year and Carvel slipped 6.5%, according to data from restaurant research firm Technomic. (GoTo Foods is privately held and doesn't release financial information). The rise of dual locations has 'seemingly caught fire,' Henkes said, pointing to the Applebee's-IHOP concept that first opened in Texas with plans for a dozen more to open in the coming months. 'The idea is to bring the strengths of two brands under one roof and hope that 1 plus 1 equals 3 (or at least 2.5), generating a bit more incrementally in revenue while hopefully reducing the cost structure,' Henkes said.
CNN
08-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
Cinnabon's new store is made for Gen Z
Cinnabon is facing an existential threat as it turns 40: How does a chain that's become synonymous with the food court evolve when fewer malls are being built? GoTo Foods, Cinnabon's parent company, isn't looking too far for a solution. Next month, Cinnabon is opening a first-of-its-kind location with sister brand Carvel that mashes up Cinnabon's hot and gooey cinnamon rolls with Carvel's ice creams for a selection of desserts. 'We took this concept to a very broad swath of consumers early on (and we) got this ringing endorsement from about 80% of the US population,' Jim Holthouser, CEO of GoTo Foods, told CNN. The concept is largely aimed at attracting Gen Z and Millennial eaters, who 'definitely have a desire for unique indulgent experiences.' He describes the indulgence as 'little treat culture,' a reference to a popular social media trend among younger consumers purchasing small, affordable sweets or items as a reward for mundane daily tasks. The menu at 'Cinnabon Swirl' is designed for the TikTok audience, where unique foods are often brought to the top of people's algorithms and become viral sensations. GoTo Foods hopes it will draw in customers as mall foot traffic has stagnated in recent years and traditional food courts have disappeared in favor of more upscale options. For starters, there's the 'Bonini,' a cinnamon roll warmed in a panini press, sliced in half and filled with ice cream. Then there's the 'Cinnabon Swirl Sundae,' which features the sweet center of a cinnamon roll as its base and topped with soft serve ice cream. Rounding out the menu are ice cream sandwiches served with Cinnabon-inspired cookies and Carvel-influenced toppings, like sprinkles or cookie bits. A small selection of Carvel and Cinnabon staples served at their standalone locations — cakes, ice cream and cinnamon rolls — are also on sale. GoTo Foods franchises their brands, which also includes Auntie Anne's, Jamba, and Schlotzsky's. Pitching owners to invest in an unproven concept is often met with hesitancy. However, 'Cinnabon Swirl' was an instant hit, Holthouser said. 'We really had no problem signing people up, which is a little unusual,' he admitted. 'Usually when new brands are birthed, a lot of owners are going to sit on the sidelines to make sure that things kind of work out the way they think.' The first 'Cinnabon Swirl' opens in May in Oregon, with another three opening by the end of this year in Peoria, Arizona; Kennesaw, Georgia; and Pasadena, California. An additional 30 locations are slated to open in 2026. Unlike other mashups, most recently Dine Brands' Applebee's-IHOP restaurant, the Carvel brand wasn't included in the name, although its colors and logos are featured in the store. The concept 'leads with' Cinnabon 'simply because that's most known to consumers,' with Cinnabon having about 2,000 locations globally. That massively dwarfs Carvel's roughly 400 stores, which are predominantly in the US northeast, Holthouser said. GoTo Foods has built up its portfolio with smaller, niche brands that largely depend on foot traffic, attracting customers as they are out shopping or traveling. That means the economics of their restaurants are not as sustainable as standalone locations. One way it's trying to solve that problem is by opening more co-branding locations, emulating the success it's seen with plugging Auntie Anne's into Jamba and Cinnabon locations. For example, an Auntie Anne's 'works all day long in a mall,' but it doesn't make enough money to 'justify the rents' of a standalone location, Holthauser said. But when an Auntie Anne's together with a Cinnabon or Jamba is combined, profitability improves. 'If I want to keep these brands going, keep the stories going and be able to serve consumers, I've got to find other ways of building distribution for these brands,' Holthouser admitted. Experimenting with dual-branded locations is a focus for GoTo Foods, with the goal being to 'drive efficiencies and unit-level productivity by focusing on best sellers at each chain,' noted David Henkes, a senior principal at Technomic, a restaurant research firm. 'I'd liken it to a greatest hits compilation from both chains — taking the things that work best and removing menu items that perhaps don't resonate as much,' he told CNN. Both Cinnabon and Carvel could use a jolt of sugar, too: Cinnabon sales declined 0.5% last year and Carvel slipped 6.5%, according to data from restaurant research firm Technomic. (GoTo Foods is privately held and doesn't release financial information). The rise of dual locations has 'seemingly caught fire,' Henkes said, pointing to the Applebee's-IHOP concept that first opened in Texas with plans for a dozen more to open in the coming months. 'The idea is to bring the strengths of two brands under one roof and hope that 1 plus 1 equals 3 (or at least 2.5), generating a bit more incrementally in revenue while hopefully reducing the cost structure,' Henkes said.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cinnabon is trying to avoid extinction with the help of TikTok and ice cream
Cinnabon is facing an existential threat as it turns 40: How does a chain that's become synonymous with the food court evolve when fewer malls are being built? GoTo Foods, Cinnabon's parent company, isn't looking too far for a solution. Next month, Cinnabon is opening a first-of-its-kind location with sister brand Carvel that mashes up Cinnabon's hot and gooey cinnamon rolls with Carvel's ice creams for a selection of desserts. 'We took this concept to a very broad swath of consumers early on (and we) got this ringing endorsement from about 80% of the US population,' Jim Holthouser, CEO of GoTo Foods, told CNN. The concept is largely aimed at attracting Gen Z and Millennial eaters, who 'definitely have a desire for unique indulgent experiences.' He describes the indulgence as 'little treat culture,' a reference to a popular social media trend among younger consumers purchasing small, affordable sweets or items as a reward for mundane daily tasks. The menu at 'Cinnabon Swirl' is designed for the TikTok audience, where unique foods are often brought to the top of people's algorithms and become viral sensations. GoTo Foods hopes it will draw in customers as mall foot traffic has stagnated in recent years and traditional food courts have disappeared in favor of more upscale options. For starters, there's the 'Bonini,' a cinnamon roll warmed in a panini press, sliced in half and filled with ice cream. Then there's the 'Cinnabon Swirl Sundae,' which features the sweet center of a cinnamon roll as its base and topped with soft serve ice cream. Rounding out the menu are ice cream sandwiches served with Cinnabon-inspired cookies and Carvel-influenced toppings, like sprinkles or cookie bits. A small selection of Carvel and Cinnabon staples served at their standalone locations — cakes, ice cream and cinnamon rolls — are also on sale. GoTo Foods franchises their brands, which also includes Auntie Anne's, Jamba, and Schlotzsky's. Pitching owners to invest in an unproven concept is often met with hesitancy. However, 'Cinnabon Swirl' was an instant hit, Holthouser said. 'We really had no problem signing people up, which is a little unusual,' he admitted. 'Usually when new brands are birthed, a lot of owners are going to sit on the sidelines to make sure that things kind of work out the way they think.' The first 'Cinnabon Swirl' opens in May in Oregon, with another three opening by the end of this year in Peoria, Arizona; Kennesaw, Georgia; and Pasadena, California. An additional 30 locations are slated to open in 2026. Unlike other mashups, most recently Dine Brands' Applebee's-IHOP restaurant, the Carvel brand wasn't included in the name, although its colors and logos are featured in the store. The concept 'leads with' Cinnabon 'simply because that's most known to consumers,' with Cinnabon having about 2,000 locations globally. That massively dwarfs Carvel's roughly 400 stores, which are predominantly in the US northeast, Holthouser said. GoTo Foods has built up its portfolio with smaller, niche brands that largely depend on foot traffic, attracting customers as they are out shopping or traveling. That means the economics of their restaurants are not as sustainable as standalone locations. One way it's trying to solve that problem is by opening more co-branding locations, emulating the success it's seen with plugging Auntie Anne's into Jamba and Cinnabon locations. For example, an Auntie Anne's 'works all day long in a mall,' but it doesn't make enough money to 'justify the rents' of a standalone location, Holthauser said. But when an Auntie Anne's together with a Cinnabon or Jamba is combined, profitability improves. 'If I want to keep these brands going, keep the stories going and be able to serve consumers, I've got to find other ways of building distribution for these brands,' Holthouser admitted. Experimenting with dual-branded locations is a focus for GoTo Foods, with the goal being to 'drive efficiencies and unit-level productivity by focusing on best sellers at each chain,' noted David Henkes, a senior principal at Technomic, a restaurant research firm. 'I'd liken it to a greatest hits compilation from both chains — taking the things that work best and removing menu items that perhaps don't resonate as much,' he told CNN. Both Cinnabon and Carvel could use a jolt of sugar, too: Cinnabon sales declined 0.5% last year and Carvel slipped 6.5%, according to data from restaurant research firm Technomic. (GoTo Foods is privately held and doesn't release financial information). The rise of dual locations has 'seemingly caught fire,' Henkes said, pointing to the Applebee's-IHOP concept that first opened in Texas with plans for a dozen more to open in the coming months. 'The idea is to bring the strengths of two brands under one roof and hope that 1 plus 1 equals 3 (or at least 2.5), generating a bit more incrementally in revenue while hopefully reducing the cost structure,' Henkes said. Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
08-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
Cinnabon aims for the TikTok crowd with its new mash-up location
Cinnabon is facing an existential threat as it turns 40: How does a chain that's become synonymous with the food court evolve when fewer malls are being built? GoTo Foods, Cinnabon's parent company, isn't looking too far for a solution. Next month, Cinnabon is opening a first-of-its-kind location with sister brand Carvel that mashes up Cinnabon's hot and gooey cinnamon rolls with Carvel's ice creams for a selection of desserts. 'We took this concept to a very broad swath of consumers early on (and we) got this ringing endorsement from about 80% of the US population,' Jim Holthouser, CEO of GoTo Foods, told CNN. The concept is largely aimed at attracting Gen Z and Millennial eaters, who 'definitely have a desire for unique indulgent experiences.' He describes the indulgence as 'little treat culture,' a reference to a popular social media trend among younger consumers purchasing small, affordable sweets or items as a reward for mundane daily tasks. The menu at 'Cinnabon Swirl' is designed for the TikTok audience, where unique foods are often brought to the top of people's algorithms and become viral sensations. GoTo Foods hopes it will draw in customers as mall foot traffic has stagnated in recent years and traditional food courts have disappeared in favor of more upscale options. For starters, there's the 'Bonini,' a cinnamon roll warmed in a panini press, sliced in half and filled with ice cream. Then there's the 'Cinnabon Swirl Sundae,' which features the sweet center of a cinnamon roll as its base and topped with soft serve ice cream. Rounding out the menu are ice cream sandwiches served with Cinnabon-inspired cookies and Carvel-influenced toppings, like sprinkles or cookie bits. A small selection of Carvel and Cinnabon staples served at their standalone locations — cakes, ice cream and cinnamon rolls — are also on sale. GoTo Foods franchises their brands, which also includes Auntie Anne's, Jamba, and Schlotzsky's. Pitching owners to invest in an unproven concept is often met with hesitancy. However, 'Cinnabon Swirl' was an instant hit, Holthouser said. 'We really had no problem signing people up, which is a little unusual,' he admitted. 'Usually when new brands are birthed, a lot of owners are going to sit on the sidelines to make sure that things kind of work out the way they think.' The first 'Cinnabon Swirl' opens in May in Oregon, with another three opening by the end of this year in Peoria, Arizona; Kennesaw, Georgia; and Pasadena, California. An additional 30 locations are slated to open in 2026. Unlike other mashups, most recently Dine Brands' Applebee's-IHOP restaurant, the Carvel brand wasn't included in the name, although its colors and logos are featured in the store. The concept 'leads with' Cinnabon 'simply because that's most known to consumers,' with Cinnabon having about 2,000 locations globally. That massively dwarfs Carvel's roughly 400 stores, which are predominantly in the US northeast, Holthouser said. GoTo Foods has built up its portfolio with smaller, niche brands that largely depend on foot traffic, attracting customers as they are out shopping or traveling. That means the economics of their restaurants are not as sustainable as standalone locations. One way it's trying to solve that problem is by opening more co-branding locations, emulating the success it's seen with plugging Auntie Anne's into Jamba and Cinnabon locations. For example, an Auntie Anne's 'works all day long in a mall,' but it doesn't make enough money to 'justify the rents' of a standalone location, Holthauser said. But when an Auntie Anne's together with a Cinnabon or Jamba is combined, profitability improves. 'If I want to keep these brands going, keep the stories going and be able to serve consumers, I've got to find other ways of building distribution for these brands,' Holthouser admitted. Experimenting with dual-branded locations is a focus for GoTo Foods, with the goal being to 'drive efficiencies and unit-level productivity by focusing on best sellers at each chain,' noted David Henkes, a senior principal at Technomic, a restaurant research firm. 'I'd liken it to a greatest hits compilation from both chains — taking the things that work best and removing menu items that perhaps don't resonate as much,' he told CNN. Both Cinnabon and Carvel could use a jolt of sugar, too: Cinnabon sales declined 0.5% last year and Carvel slipped 6.5%, according to data from restaurant research firm Technomic. (GoTo Foods is privately held and doesn't release financial information). The rise of dual locations has 'seemingly caught fire,' Henkes said, pointing to the Applebee's-IHOP concept that first opened in Texas with plans for a dozen more to open in the coming months. 'The idea is to bring the strengths of two brands under one roof and hope that 1 plus 1 equals 3 (or at least 2.5), generating a bit more incrementally in revenue while hopefully reducing the cost structure,' Henkes said.
