Cinnaholic has more than 87 units. The signature roll brand is far from the typical sweet snack. It offers a completely customizable menu of rolls and desserts like scratch-made brownies, raw chocolate chip cookie dough and baked chocolate chip cookies,
Cinnaholic was founded in 2010 in Berkley, California and is helmed by its president, Spencer Reid. The brand serves up customizable rolls that are 100% vegan, dairy and lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free. Founders Shannon and Florian Radke appeared on the ABC television series “Shark Tank” in which concepts and brands are presented to business professionals in hopes that they’ll launch to the public.
Cinnaholic current has 87 locations open in the U.S. and Canada. The brand is on track to have 105 open by the end of 2023, but they’re not stopping more. There are another 25 openings planned for 2024, with another 55 in the pipeline.
We talked to LeAnne Cavallaro, VP, operations, to learn more about what sets the brand apart from other brands in the snack category and how Cinnaholic’s turn on the hit reality show helped it get ahead.
LeAnne Cavallaro, VP, operations for Cinnaholic |
Q. Cinnaholic is on a roll, so to speak. The brand plans to hit 100 units by the end of 2023. What steps is the brand taking to get there?
A. The interest in our brand across North America continues to be impressive and humbling. Many times, the interest in becoming a franchise partner stems from a visit to one of our bakeries as a consumer. Spending time with prospective franchise partners to educate and inform them on the brand is ongoing. It’s also been important for us to seek out new markets where both franchise partners want to operate and fans want to experience Cinnaholic. In the meantime, we continue to grow our corporate team in order to support the franchise growth of the brand.
Q. What sets Cinnaholic apart from other cinnamon roll brands in the snack category?
A. Our entire menu is completely customizable. With over 20 unique frosting flavors and a variety of fresh and decadent toppings, we’re not your typical cinnamon roll dessert shop — we’re a cinnamon roll experience. We also bake a new batch of cinnamon rolls every 20 minutes to assure they’re served soft, fluffy and warm every time.
Q. The rolls are 100% plant based. Why was that an important part of the brand’s concept?
A. We are on a mission to cure everyone’s dessert cravings while having a positive impact on the world. All of our products are made with the highest quality ingredients and are 100% vegan, dairy and lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free.
Q. You appeared on “Shark Tank’! What did the show do for you and tell us a little about your experience on it.
A. Everything you see is exactly how it happens in real life. Going on the show was very quick, to the point and intense. We are beyond grateful to the network as well as the “sharks” to have been given the opportunity to appear as a guest on the show. We accepted a deal from Robert Herjavec that was intended to be focused on shipping nationwide. After much thought and discussion, we decided to go in a different direction and focus on expanding our storefronts instead. With the success of “Shark Tank,” our original founder decided to turn her concept into a franchising system to share the joy of Cinnaholic with as many people as possible.
Q. You’ve got an impressive loyalty program. What sets it apart from others in the restaurant field?
A. Yes. Our Rollwards members get all the perks. They receive a free cinnamon roll on their birthday and are frequently rewarded with special offers throughout the year. Members also earn 10 points for every $1 spent in-store and online, which can be redeemed for signature rolls, rolls by the dozen, cookies and more.
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Q. Having successfully launched a brand, what advice would you give to a fledgling operator just starting out in the restaurant field?
A. One of the biggest perks of being a part of a franchise organization is having a support system — both within the franchise partner community and via the corporate support team. We urge all of our owners and operators to utilize the resources available to them; it allows consistency throughout the brand and generates a tried-and-true guest experience our Cinnaholic fans will be eager to experience time and time again.
Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living.
