Auntie Anne's to open first outlet in Nepal on Nov 21

KATHMANDU: American soft pretzel chain Auntie Anne's will open its first outlet in Nepal on November 21, marking the brand's entry into the Nepali market.

The outlet will be located in Boudha, Kathmandu, and is being launched through a partnership between GoTo Foods and JGI Distribution. According to the companies, it will operate from the fourth-floor Food Park of Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket and will be open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Auntie Anne's is being introduced in Nepal through JGI Distribution, a subsidiary of the Jawalakhel Group of Industries (JGI), in collaboration with Atlanta-based foodservice company GoTo Foods.

The companies said they plan to expand the brand's presence with additional outlets across Nepal in the coming months. The launch follows JGI Distribution's introduction of GoTo Foods brands Cinnabon and Carvel to Nepal.

"Bringing Auntie Anne's to Nepal is an exciting achievement for us," said Raj Bahadur Shah, managing director of JGI Distribution. He said the Boudha outlet would be the first of several outlets the company intends to open in the near future.

Steven Yang, Senior Vice President for Asia-Pacific at GoTo Foods International, said Nepal's addition to the brand portfolio supports the company's regional expansion plans.

"Nepal represents an important milestone in our international expansion strategy," Yang said. "Following the success achieved with Cinnabon and Carvel, we are excited that JGI Distribution is also expanding Auntie Anne's into Nepal."

The Boudha outlet will offer a range of freshly baked pretzels, including Original, Jalapeño, Cinnamon Sugar, Almond and Pepperoni varieties. The menu will also feature Original and Cheese Pretzel Dogs, Mini Pretzel Dogs, Pretzel Stix, a selection of dips, lemonade-based beverages and hot and cold coffee.

Founded in the United States in 1988, Auntie Anne's operates in the US and international markets. According to company information, its parent company, GoTo Foods, formerly Focus Brands, franchised and operated more than 7,100 restaurants, cafés, ice cream shops and bakeries across all 50 US states and 70 countries and territories as of September 28, 2025.

JGI Distribution operates under the Jawalakhel Group of Industries, a privately owned Nepali consumer goods conglomerate that says it has more than 55 years of experience in manufacturing, distribution and brand development.