Auntie Anne’s is owned by the company Auntie Anne’s, Inc. , which is owned by the private equity group Advent International. The company was founded in 1988 by Anne Beiler, who opened her first stand in the Downingtown, Pennsylvania farmer’s market.
Over the course of nearly 30 years, the company has grown from its small beginnings to an international brand with over 1,100 locations across the United States, and in more than 30 other countries around the world.
Auntie Anne’s, Inc. is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is a subsidiary of the FOCUS Brands family, which is owned by the aforementioned Advent International.
Which Auntie Anne’s does Shaq own?
Shaquille O’Neal is a former professional basketball player who is now a well known entrepreneur. He has invested in numerous companies, including an ownership stake in 15 Auntie Anne’s Pretzel franchises.
According to Shaq, he first had the idea to invest in a pretzel business when he went to his local mall and saw the long lines at the Auntie Anne’s Pretzel store. He began with one store in Atlanta and has since added 14 more locations in Georgia, Ohio, and Florida.
All of Shaq’s Auntie Ann’s pretzel stores are co-branded with his other business ventures like Krispy Skreme and Big Chicken to create unique “Food Courts” in the malls. In addition, each of his Auntie Anne’s stores feature photo ops with Shaq and memorabilia from his basketball career.
Who is Sam Beiler?
Sam Beiler is a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Knead, Inc. , a thriving provider of fresh-baked pretzel products. Beiler’s journey started with a small stand in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County in 1989.
From there, Beiler took Knead from a one-man operation to a multinational business. Knead began with 20 products, but it has since grown to nearly 200 varieties of pretzels, including pretzel pieces, pretzel dogs, and gourmet pretzel snacks.
Beiler is a member of the board of directors at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the CEO Council for Growth. He is also an investor in several food start-ups, including Zestful Munchies, an online retailer of pretzel-based snacks, and Four Foods Group, a restaurant franchising company.
Beiler has been profiled by numerous publications, including Forbes, The New York Times, and Inc. Magazine. He is a philanthropist and regularly speaks at business schools, conferences, and leadership summits.
Beiler’s success story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs around the world.
Who started Spooky Nook?
Spooky Nook was founded in 2011 by Sam Beiler, the founder of Auntie Anne’s. As an entrepreneur, Beiler was determined to create a special place for athletes and their families to engage in sports and fitness training.
He wanted a safe and structured environment with high quality facility, training and programming and the ultimate experience for both the professionals and amateur. He wanted the opportunity to be available to everyone.
Beiler imagined Spooky Nook as the foremost sports and entertainment complex in the country and he sphered his vision into a reality. He invested millions in creating a “destination” experience, obtaining world-class sports, fitness, and entertainment offerings in one place.
He worked with various governments and regulatory organizations to turn this dream into a reality. After almost two decades, Spooky Nook offers something for everyone, from athletes to families and groups themselves, making it an all-inclusive experience.
How much did it cost to build Spooky Nook?
The exact cost of building Spooky Nook is not publicly available, but it has been estimated that it cost between $80 and $100 million to construct. The facility opened in 2013 after two years of construction and covers more than 1 million square feet of land.
Spooky Nook is the largest indoor sports complex in North America, featuring seven sports courts, 11 batting cages, a three-story climbing area, fitness and fitness spa, an arcade, and a café. It also includes more than 100 hotel rooms and meeting areas, a kids’ zone, and a full-size sports store.
The project was funded largely by private investors, with the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority providing some of the funding.
How old is Spooky Nook?
Spooky Nook Sports officially opened in November of 2019, making it just over a year old. The facility itself, however, has a much longer history. It was built in 1997 as a manufacturing facility and warehousing complex, and was known as Wenger’s Warehouse.
For almost 20 years it served as a storage and manufacturing center before it was purchased by Sam Beiler, the founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, in 2016. After extensive renovations and expansions, it was christened “Spooky Nook” and opened in 2019 as the largest indoor sports complex in the United States.
What is the biggest indoor sports complex in the US?
The biggest indoor sports complex in the US is the Intrust Bank Arena located in Wichita, Kansas. It has an impressive 500,000 square feet of space, making it the largest indoor sports complex in the country.
Opened in 2010, the venue has quickly become a go-to spot for athletes and fans. It hosts basketball, hockey and even arena football games. It also features a 14,000-seat arena, which can be rearranged to accommodate different sports and seating arrangements.
Beyond sports, the arena hosts concerts and other events, making it a true multipurpose facility. With its sheer size and features, it’s no wonder why the Intrust Bank Arena is the biggest indoor sports complex in the US.
What solution are pretzels dipped in before baking?
Pretzels are usually dipped in a lye solution before baking. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is an alkaline solution typically used in the production of pretzels, bagels, and other baked goods. It gives pretzels their characteristic flavor and texture, as well as a unique brown glaze.
Additionally, it helps extend the shelf life of the product by preserving the moisture content, allowing it to stay fresher for an extended period. By soaking pretzels in a lye solution prior to baking, a thin layer of sodium hydroxide is absorbed into the surface of the pretzel, causing a chemical reaction when heated, resulting in an optimal flavor, texture, and appearance.
Are pretzels healthier than chips?
It depends on what type of chips and pretzels you’re comparing. Generally speaking, plain, unsalted pretzels are healthier than most chips, particularly salted and greasy chips.
Pretzels are made with refined wheat flour, which is essentially plain white flour. This makes them slightly lower in fiber and nutrients than whole wheat or whole grain versions of either snack. However, since pretzels don’t contain oil or added salt, they have fewer calories and less fat than chips.
This makes them a healthier option overall.
In addition, when looking at the sodium content, pretzels contain a much lower salt content than both flavored and unflavored chips. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see over double the sodium in chips compared to pretzels.
This can be especially beneficial for those consumers trying to cut down on their daily sodium intake.
So, when making a comparison between pretzels and chips, the former often comes out on top in terms of nutrition. In order to make the healthiest snack choice possible, however, it’s important to look for added ingredients such as oil, salt, and sugar.
As always, moderation is key when trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.
How do you make pretzels shiny?
Making pretzels shiny involves brushing the dough with an egg wash or a simple mixture of egg yolk, vegetable oil, or melted butter before baking. The egg wash can be either beaten raw eggs or egg whites together with water, and the amount of water used will depend on how thick you want the coating to be.
Before brushing the pretzel dough, it’s important to roll it into the desired shape that you want the final pretzel to be. It is important to note that if the dough is not rolled out correctly, the coating may be too thin or gloopy and the pretzel texture may be affected.
Once the pretzel dough is brushed with the egg wash, sprinkle some coarse salt on the surface to give it a nice added flavor and crunch. Finally, you can add baking soda before baking to make the coating even shinier.
Bake the pretzels at a moderate temperature (350 to 375 degrees F) for 10-15 minutes or until they are golden brown. After they are finished baking, they will be extra shiny and ready to be enjoyed!
How do you keep soft pretzels from getting hard?
One way to keep soft pretzels from getting hard is to wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag. This keeps moisture locked in, resulting in a soft, chewy pretzel.
Additionally, you can store them in the fridge as this helps to keep them from drying out. Re-heating is another good way to keep your pretzels from going stale. Place them in a 350 degree pre-heated oven for about 5 minutes.
Finally, you can add a few drops of water on the pretzel before you reheat it in order to keep it from drying out.
How much baking soda and water do you put in pretzels?
When making your own pretzels at home, you will need to make a baking soda and water solution called a “lye” bath. The ratio of baking soda to water in the bath should be 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water.
This ratio will create a very basic solution, resulting in a perfectly crisp and crunchy pretzel. After the bath, the pretzels should be rinsed under cold running water for about 15 seconds in order to remove any remaining baking soda residue.
Once the pretzels have been soaked and rinsed, they are ready to be boiled in a pot of salted water. After boiling for about 30 seconds, the pretzels should be removed, placed on a baking sheet, and sprinkled with salt before baking.
What can I use instead of baking soda for pretzels?
If you are looking for an alternative to baking soda for pretzels, you might try a combination of baking powder, salt, and warm water. The baking powder will provide the leavening action necessary to give the pretzels their desired texture, while the salt lends additional flavor.
When working with baking powder, use a ratio of 2 teaspoons of baking powder to 1 cup of warm water. Add the warm water and baking powder to the pretzel dough, let it stand for a few minutes, and then move on to your typical pretzel recipe steps.
The dough may need to be kneaded a bit more than if you had used baking soda, but the result should be light, fluffy and flavorful pretzels.
Are Auntie Anne’s mini hot dogs beef?
No, Auntie Anne’s mini hot dogs are not beef. They are made with all-natural pork, chicken, and turkey that is blended together with spices before it is smoked and cooked. So, rather than being pure beef hot dogs, they are made with a variety of different proteins.
However, some locations may also offer all-beef mini hot dogs. Be sure to check with your local Auntie Anne’s before purchasing if that’s something you’re interested in.