Auntie Anne's

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Auntie Anne's, Inc.

Type	Private
Founded	1989
Headquarters	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
Key people	Sam Beiler
Industry	Restaurants
Revenue	$266 million in 2006
Website	www.auntieannes.com

Auntie Anne's, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is an American chain of pretzel bakeries founded by Anne F. Beiler and her husband, Jonas, in 1989. Auntie Anne's serves products such as pretzels, dips, and other desserts. They also serve beverages such as lemonade, 'Dutch' ice, and coffee. In addition to Auntie Anne's locations in the United States, other countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Canada have chains as well. In 2003, Auntie Anne's became the "Preferred Pretzel of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Auntie Anne's is well known for their freshly-baked, hand-rolled soft pretzels. Their pretzel products are available for home preparation with the At-Home Pretzel Pack.

The chain started as a humble market stand in a Downingtown, Pennsylvania farmer's market. In the same year, Auntie Anne's expanded to eight locations in the state of Pennsylvania, after the first bakery opened in Harrisburg. The first mall location was the Park City Mall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1989. By 1990, the bakery chain spread to nine other states with fifty locations. In 1992, the first Auntie Anne's airport bakery opened at the Pittsburgh International Airport. 1995 brought its first train station store at Penn Station in New York City. By 2005, there were 887 bakeries in 45 states and twelve countries. Auntie Anne's pretzels continue to be in popular demand. The company has a threefold philosophy: providing a premium product, in a sparkling clean store, with friendly customer service.

Auntie Anne's also runs a charity branch called the Angela Foundation, that provides financial support to companies who help children and families in need. The company also supports the Children's Miracle Network.

In October 2006, it was announced that the Auntie Anne's corporate headquarters would be relocated from the town of Gap to downtown Lancaster. The former site of the Lancaster Post Office was purchased for $7 million dollars by Auntie Anne's, Inc. The building itself was constructed in 1927, and stands at three stories tall on about 1.5 acres. The building maintains the original 1920s features such as brass doors, high ceilings, and skylights.