Image courtesy of Auntie Anne's
 
At a launch event in Shenzhen, China, FOCUS Brands announced that its Auntie Anne’s hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise would soon debut its first location in China.

Scheduled to open on June 25 in Shenzhen, the store is part of a planned expansion throughout the country. Additional location openings in Beijing and Shanghai will take place in the near future, as the FOCUS Brands sees plenty of potential in the Chinese market.

“China is a key market for Auntie Anne's and we think our handcrafted, freshly baked, and brewed products will really resonate with the country's consumers,” says Mike Kehoe, President of International at FOCUS Brands. “We see enormous growth potential in China, as we know there is broad appeal for our classic pretzel and new tea offerings.”

The customized approach to the Chinese market includes a new store design and expanded menu with more than 20 unique tea offerings.

FOCUS Brands hopes that the success of Auntie Anne’s in China will lead to its growth in the country, especially with its other baked goods concept, Cinnabon.