Maker of World Famous Cinnamon Rolls Gains Popularity in Travel Centers
Cinnabon, Inc. this month celebrated the 100th opening with Pilot Flying J, a partnership that has fueled the fast growth of the bakery leader in travel centers and plazas across the country.
The 100th bakery opened Aug. 1, at the Pilot Travel Center in Mebane, North Carolina. Grand opening festivities included a ribbon cutting along with Cinnabon Classic Roll and Pilot Flying J coffee giveaways to commuters throughout the morning.
This milestone opening signifies a successful partnership between Cinnabon and Pilot Flying J, which dates back to 2011 when the first Cinnabon bakery opened in Knoxville, Tenn. Since then, the partnership has led to 100 locations, with nearly 40 bakeries opening in 2013 alone. By the end of 2015, an estimated 150 Pilot Flying J locations will carry fresh-baked Cinnabon products. Pilot Flying J is one of the few locations where consumers can find Cinnabon treats 24 hours a day. This year, over 2.5 million Cinnabon classic rolls have been sold throughout the country to busy commuters looking for a sweet treat along their way.
“Travel centers and plazas are an exciting growth vehicle for the Cinnabon brand,” said Cinnabon President Kat Cole. “We are thrilled to spread our footprint across accessible venues for those looking for a moment of satisfaction amid their busy schedules.”
Pilot Flying J Travel Centers and Plazas are focused on providing superior coffee, food and beverage options and customer experience to travelers – all attributes that line up with the Cinnabon core offerings. Meeting the demand for more-portable, on-the-go products, Pilot Flying J was the first venue to nationally roll out the newest Cinnabon menu item, CinnaSweeties, bite-sized doughnut treats tossed in signature Makara cinnamon and sugar, perfect for dipping in a variety of flavored frostings.
“We want to deliver a unique and special experience to our customers,” said Whitney Haslam Johnson, Director of Brand and Customer Experience at Pilot Flying J. “Partnering with Cinnabon was a perfect fit. We share the same goals and values – we are fast and efficient, we always deliver high quality and we both strive to make our guest say, ‘Wow!’.”
At Pilot Flying J, guests can enjoy a number of warm, fresh-baked treats, including Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Rolls, topped with signature cream cheese frosting, as well as the Caramel Pecanbon roll, and Center of the Roll, offering ooey gooey goodness of the middle of the roll. Other grab-and-go favorites are CinnaSweeties and the Classic Roll CinnaPack, available in six and nine count boxes.
Founded in Seattle in 1985 and now based in Atlanta, Cinnabon, Inc. is the market leader among cinnamon roll bakeries. The company serves fresh, aromatic, oven-hot cinnamon rolls, as well as a variety of other baked goods and specialty beverages. Cinnabon currently operates more than 1,100 franchised locations worldwide, primarily in high traffic venues such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, travel plazas, entertainment centers and military establishments. Cinnabon is also a multi-channel licensor, partnering with other companies to provide brand licensed products at foodservice and retail venues. Visit www.cinnabon.com for more information.
Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, is committed to making life better for professional drivers. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot Flying J has more than 650 retail locations. The Pilot Flying J network provides drivers with access to more than 65,000 parking spaces for trucks, 4,400 showers and 4,000 diesel lanes, with more than 4,100 offering DEF at the pump. Pilot Flying J subsidiary Pilot Logistics Services is one of the fastest growing independent energy logistics companies in North America. Together, Pilot Flying J and Pilot Logistic Services employ more than 24,000 people. Pilot Flying J is currently ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. Visit www.pilotflyingj.com for more information.
