The US-based chain Cinnabon will open its long-awaited first store in Sydney before the end of 2022.
The business has plans to open a second Sydney location in 2023 before ramping up New South Wales expansion. The target is a further 15 sites within the next five years.
The initial Cinnabon Sydney store is reportedly scheduled for a late November/early December launch at Darling Square. The 40sqm retail outlet will include outside seating for 15 to 20 people.
Alby Lam, one of the directors of the master franchisee that holds the franchise for Cinnabon in NSW and ACT, told Broadsheet that it was hard for the brand to choose the location, since it didn’t want to be housed in a shopping centre, but to be on the street.
Cinnabon, known for its sticky cinnamon rolls, started in 1985 in Seattle and today operates across 50 countries. It was first launched in Australia in 2019 with The Bansal Group.
Since then the Cinnabon footprint in Australia has been focused on Queensland and there are now five outlets in the Sunshine State. The business expanded to its first Victorian outlet last year in Cheltenham.
In 2019, pre-Covid, Gaurav Bansal, director of The Bansal Group, announced the ambitious goal of 50 Cinnabons across Australia by 2024. The Bansal Group has been successful in expanding the Carl’s Jr. chain here. It holds a license in Australia for the burger business which is owned in the US by multi-brand franchisor CKE Restaurants.
International brands need to resonate with consumers
Bansal said in 2019 that bringing an international chain to Australia was not without its challenges.
“A brand’s ability to globalise, whether it’s from the US, the UK or otherwise, is all to do with if it has a market in that particular region and if they can replicate their unique selling point in a way that resonates with that region’s consumers,” Bansal said.
As iconic US brands established in the country continue to expand across Australia, there are more brands looking to launch.
The Wendy’s burger chain, recently announced it was on the hunt for an Australian master franchisee.
And earlier this year sweet treat chain Duck Donuts attended the Melbourne Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo. The donut business is seeking master franchisees for Australia.
