Wetzel's Pretzels facts for kids
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Wetzel's Pretzels, Tysons Corner Center
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Trade name
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Wetzel's Pretzels |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Food and beverage Pretzel Shop |
| Genre | Quick service |
| Founded | 1994 South Bay Galleria, Redondo Beach, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Rick Wetzel Bill Phelps |
| Headquarters |
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US
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Number of locations
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370 (2023) |
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Key people
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Jennifer Schuler, CEO |
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| Revenue | US$245 million (US, 2022) |
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Number of employees
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2,000 (2021) |
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Wetzel's Pretzels is a popular American fast-food chain. They are famous for their delicious pretzels and hot dogs. You can find Wetzel's Pretzels in over 370 places. These locations are mostly in the United States, Canada, and Central America. Many stores are in shopping malls, airports, theme parks, and sports stadiums. Recently, they have also started using food trucks. The company's main office is in Pasadena, California.
Contents
History of Wetzel's Pretzels
How Wetzel's Pretzels Started
Wetzel's Pretzels was started in 1994 by two friends, Rick Wetzel and Bill Phelps. They opened their first store in Redondo Beach, California, at the South Bay Galleria. The name "Wetzel's Pretzels" was inspired by Rick Wetzel's childhood nickname.
Growing the Business
In 1997, Wetzel and Phelps got help from several investors. These investors helped the company grow even more. One investor, Gary L. Wilson, had connections to Disney. This connection helped Wetzel's Pretzels open stores inside famous places like Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, the company's ownership changed a few times. In 2007, a company called Levine Leichtman Capital Partners bought most of Wetzel's Pretzels. Bill Phelps still owned a part of the company. Later, in 2016, another company called CenterOak Partners LLC took over.
In 2019, Jennifer Schuler became the new CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Wetzel's Pretzels. She took over from Bill Phelps. In December 2022, MTY Food Group bought Wetzel's Pretzels.
What's on the Menu?
Delicious Pretzel Treats
Wetzel's Pretzels is known for its tasty pretzels and hot dogs. Their main item is the Wetzel's Original pretzel. You can get it with salt or without salt. They also have other flavors like cinnamon sugar and pepperoni.
If you like smaller snacks, you can try "Bitz." These are bite-sized pretzel pieces. They come in Original, Cinn-a-bitz (cinnamon sugar), or Pizza Bitz (with pepperoni).
They also offer "Wetzel Dog," which is an all-beef hot dog wrapped in a pretzel. For smaller bites, there are "Dog Bites" and "Cheesy Dog Bites."
Refreshing Drinks
Wetzel's Pretzels also has a variety of drinks. They are famous for their fresh and frozen lemonades. You can choose between original and strawberry flavors. They also offer other drinks like granitas. Wetzel's was one of the first snack restaurants to add boba popping pearls to their menu. You can find boba in flavors like Cherry and Mango.
