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. It is located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and operates over 6,700 stores globally.[2]
History
Roark Capital Group, a private equity firm, acquired Carvel in 2001.[3] It purchased Cinnabon and the international operations of Seattle's Best Coffee from AFC Enterprises in November 2004, combining the three brands under its Focus Brands affiliate.[4] Focus Brands purchased Schlotzsky's from Bobby Cox Companies in 2006, less than two years after Bobby Cox had purchased the brand from bankruptcy.
On August 11, 2007, Focus Brands announced that it purchased the Moe's Southwest Grill brand from Raving Brands.[5]
In October 2010, Focus Brands acquired the mostly mall-based franchiser Auntie Anne's, a maker of pretzels.[6]
In June 2017, Kat Cole was named Chief Operating Officer.[7]
On August 2, 2018, Focus Brands announced that it would acquire Frisco-based smoothie-maker Jamba, formerly known as Jamba Juice.[8] The acquisition was completed on September 14, 2018.[9]
In February 2020, Jim Holthouser was named Chief Executive Officer.[10]
In February 2024, the company announced it was rebranding under the new name GoTo Foods.[11]
See also
External links
References
- Roark:: Current Investments^
- Ben Coley. Behind GoTo Foods' Strategic Shift Toward Synergy and Scale QSR Magazine, 2024-10-08, retrieved 2024-10-14^
- Lisa Feb. 20. Focus Brands is changing its name to GoTo Foods Restaurant Business, retrieved 2025-12-25^
- COMPANY NEWS; FOCUS BRANDS TO BUY CINNABON FROM AFC ENTERPRISES The New York Times, September 9, 2004, retrieved July 1, 2009^
- Minnick, Fred (April 11, 2007). "FOCUS Brands Buys Moe's Southwest Grill". QSR Magazine.^
- "Focus Brands Buys Auntie Anne's". QSR. Retrieved August 19, 2012.^
- Kat Cole named COO, President North America at FOCUS Brands bizjournals.com, retrieved 2018-01-31^
- Arnessa Garrett, Karen Robinson-Jacobs. Frisco-based Jamba Juice to be bought by Atlanta operator of Schlotzsky's Dallas News, 2 August 2018, retrieved 2 August 2018^
- Focus Brands completes $200m acquisition of smoothie chain Jamba Juice Verdict Foodservice, 14 September 2018, retrieved 4 October 2018^
- FOCUS Brands Taps Hilton Exec as Next CEO QSR magazine, February 20, 2020, retrieved 2021-02-02^
- Joanna Fantozzi. Focus Brands rebrands to GoTo Foods Nation's Restaurant News, February 20, 2024, retrieved March 1, 2024^