GoTo Foods
Private
Foundation2001 (age 25)
Location citySandy Springs, Georgia
Location countryUnited States
Num locations6,700 (2024)
Key people
  • Jim Holthouser (CEO)
  • Mike Dixon (CFO)
  • Michael Barrett (CAO)
  • Guillermo Cremer (CPO)
  • Sarah Powell (General Counsel & Secretary)
  • Steven Roach (CIO)
  • Brian Krause (CDO)
IndustryRestaurants
SubsidAuntie Anne's
Carvel
Cinnabon
Jamba
McAlister's Deli
Moe's Southwest Grill
Schlotzsky's
OwnerRoark Capital Group[1]
Homepagewww.gotofoods.com

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

References

  1. ^ "Roark:: Current Investments"
  2. ^ Coley, Ben (2024-10-08). "Behind GoTo Foods' Strategic Shift Toward Synergy and Scale". QSR Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  3. ^ Feb. 20, Lisa & Jennings. "Focus Brands is changing its name to GoTo Foods". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  4. ^ "COMPANY NEWS; FOCUS BRANDS TO BUY CINNABON FROM AFC ENTERPRISES". The New York Times. September 9, 2004. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  5. ^ Minnick, Fred (April 11, 2007). "FOCUS Brands Buys Moe's Southwest Grill" Archived April 19, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. QSR Magazine.
  6. ^ "Focus Brands Buys Auntie Anne's" Archived June 20, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. QSR. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "Kat Cole named COO, President North America at FOCUS Brands". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  8. ^ Garrett, Arnessa & Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (2 August 2018). "Frisco-based Jamba Juice to be bought by Atlanta operator of Schlotzsky's". Dallas News. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Focus Brands completes $200m acquisition of smoothie chain Jamba Juice". Verdict Foodservice. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  10. ^ "FOCUS Brands Taps Hilton Exec as Next CEO". QSR magazine. February 20, 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. ^ Fantozzi, Joanna (February 20, 2024). "Focus Brands rebrands to GoTo Foods". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved March 1, 2024.