GSP Helps Soft Pretzel Franchise Auntie Anne's Manage Menu Changes with POD Technology

CLEARWATER, Fla. — May 3, 2016 — GSP, a leading provider of retail services, is helping Auntie Anne’s, the world’s largest soft pretzel franchise, “raise the standard of snacking” with innovative new Print on Demand technology. The software gives more than 900 Auntie Anne’s locations the freedom to print their own, location-specific menu boards in a custom, online template created to uphold corporate brand standards.

GSP’s exclusive Print on Demand technology was created to meet the needs of multi-unit consumer facing brands in a fast-paced marketplace. The cloud-based platform makes it accessible from anywhere, with no special programming or design skills necessary.

“We needed a more convenient solution for ordering menu boards to help us stay competitive,” explains Meredith Wenz, director of marketing for Auntie Anne’s. “The existing process did not allow for all of the product variations and the numerous franchise requests that could overload our marketing and creative teams.”

Shares Kevin Farley, GSP’s COO, “We are happy that we were able to customize print on demand software so all menu board requests are processed and built through a single system." He continues, "The system makes it easy for users to select products sold at their location. It even knows how to space the product text correctly and maximize images. It gives Auntie Anne’s the flexibility to adjust pricing for local variations and test new items without compromising brand consistency.”

About Auntie Anne’s
At its more than 1,600 locations around the world, Auntie Anne’s mixes, twists and bakes pretzels from scratch all day long in full view of guests. Auntie Anne’s can be found in malls, outlet centers and Walmarts, as well as in non-traditional spaces including universities, airports, travel plazas, amusement parks and military bases. In addition, it has extended the brand onto retailers’ shelves and also serves as a distributor for fundraising products. Available at select retailers nationwide, pretzel fans can enjoy Auntie Anne’s prepare-at-home products, from frozen Classic and Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels and Pretzel Nuggets, to frozen Pretzel Dogs and Pretzel Pocket Sandwiches, to a versatile Pretzel Baking Kit.

About Focus Brands
Atlanta-based Focus Brands, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of more than 5,000 ice cream shoppes, bakeries, restaurants and cafes in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 60 foreign countries under the brand names Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auntie Anne’s and McAlister’s Deli, as well as Seattle’s Best Coffee on certain military bases and in certain international markets.

About GSP
Founded in 1978, GSP is a retail services provider located in Clearwater, Florida with three regional production facilities (Clearwater; Provo, Utah; and Madison, Wisconsin). By using surveys and a proprietary software system, GSP helps retailers accurately measure and store site data, guaranteeing the right size sign is delivered to the right store every time with no overage. GSP also offers award-winning marketing, food photography, industrial design, visual merchandising, best-in-class graphics and smart POP program management to more than 60,000 retail locations throughout North America. Recent growth led GSP to add AccuStore, a survey, app and site profiling software brand, and the large-format graphics lab Great Big Pictures, which specializes in fashion retail.

Source: GSP.