Pretzel History: Company Information | Auntie Anne's (2024)

FAQs

What is the story behind Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

“Auntie” Anne Beiler started baking pretzels to help fund her husband's desire to provide free family counseling services for their community.

The pretzel was invented by European monks in the early Middle Ages, possibly in the 6th or 7th century. The monks used the pretzel's distinctive knot shape to represent the Holy Trinity, with the three holes in the pretzel symbolizing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Today, Beiler is focused on her motivational speaking career, as well as her writing projects. She has published several books about her faith, her family and her pretzels, including “Twist of Faith: The Story of Anne Beiler, the Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels.”

In 2005, Anne sold Auntie Anne's to speak to audiences on leadership, purpose, and the power of confession.

In the old days pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.

Anne and Jonas Beiler were both raised Mennonite, and in her book Twist of Faith, Anne talks about how God helped her through a family tragedy and helped her build Auntie Anne's. But the halo over the pretzel in the company's logo was introduced in 2006 after Sam Beiler initiated a redesign and rebranding.

GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands) is an American company that currently owns the Schlotzsky's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, Auntie Anne's and Jamba brands.

Both Cinnabon and Auntie Anne's are part of Focus Brands, the Atlanta-based operator owned by Roark Capital, the private equity group trying to buy Subway.

Underpinned by the seven core values in its business: Teamwork, Respect, Honesty, Excellence, Diligence, Continuous Improvement and finally, Celebration (where achievements are recognised and rewarded) Auntie Anne's mission statement for franchisees/store managers is:” to provide our franchisees and corporate store ...

Where is Auntie Anne's headquarters? ›

Lancaster, PA

Auntie Anne's / Headquarters

In the United States, you can find Auntie Anne's in all 50 states with Pennsylvania leading the way with around 133 locations.

In the 17th century, the pretzel's interlocking loops also came to symbolize undying love. Some couples even grasped the ends of the pretzel and unraveled it during wedding ceremonies — one possible origin of the phrase “tying the knot."

There are many stories about the origin of this German tradition, but there is a common thought that the pretzel itself is fashioned after the way in which German Monks prayed with their arms crossed in front of their chests.

During the Middle Ages, monks gave away pretzels to the poor as a religious symbol that additionally provided literal sustenance. Because of this, the twisted snack caught on as a sign of fulfillment, good fortune and prosperity.

The Catholic Church claims that a monk in Northern Italy created pretzels by using left-over dough that was originally made for Lent. He created the signature pretzel shape because it was meant to symbolize a child praying with his arms folded across his chest.