Auntie Anne's vs. Wetzel's Pretzels

Auntie Anne's and Wetzel's Pretzels are the two largest pretzel franchises in the world. This video profiles the rise of the two brands with a focus on all the craziness that was happening with soft pretzels in the 1990s.

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Company Declines:
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[yummyunicornninja]

My local mall has 2 Auntie Annes and 2 Wetzel Pretzels. They each have a location on the first floor and on the 2nd floor. And on busy days, all of those kiosks are packed with people. I never knew Auntie Anne's was so much bigger. They have always been interchangeable in my eyes. Every single mall in the nearby area has both franchises.

[evankunz]

Those cinnamon sugar pretzel bites from auntie anne’s are just heavenly

[Saintnick]

It was through this video that I learned that both Auntie Anne's and Wetzel's Pretzels are much newer than I realized.

[ReadyrNot]

Growing up in California, or at least my part of California, I always looked at Wetzels as being the dominant brand but little did I know

[darinhaller]

I was a manager of an Auntie Anne’s in Ohio in the late 90s and Anne visited our location and was super nice. She deserves her success!

[mmasque]

Very informative. Who knew there could be so many twists and turns in the story of pretzel stores?

[christian]

Fun fact: my family was banned in a Auntie Anne's because I wanted a transparent cup and after the employees stopped me from stealing one I screamed in the top of my lungs. I was 4 years old by the way.

[Skylancer]

I'll be honest, I've literally gone to the mall or local Walmart just for Auntie Anne's. They're pretzels are just so good. Downside is it's extremely overpriced and kinda always has been. It's like $5.00 a pretzel today and they literally sell combos for two people worth $25. My god that's steep. But I will say, I like them so much I've never even noticed the competition. It's like my mind was already sold on Auntie Anne's being the best.

[TheCrazierz]

My first job was a Wetzels pretzels, in a brand new mall literally having its grand opening. I applied during a college job fair and I was stunned since the mall was built in my backward, a 2 minute drive from my house and I never even knew.

Anyways, the first month or two it was crazy, lots and lots of sales but afterwards, business died down drastically, mostly because the shop was at a remote corner of the mall and the mall itself was at a corner of very new suburbian area, far from most of the local population.

They had to let go of a seasoned manager and eventually paid me to manage it, but im sure I made nowhere near what the old manager did. Sales were so slow. We barely made $300 a day, sometimes selling just 1 drink or even nothing an hour. It only lasted a year before the owner closed it.

Suburbia has grown farther past the mall now and its now in a bit better situation, since its now in the middle of multiple neighborhoods and a new wetzels has popped open.

Anyways, those were the days, we would make my own creations, like the super pepperoni stuffed cheese dog... man, I gained so much weight working there.

[THE_Dr.Pepper_Ethusiast]

Never had anything other than Auntie Anne’s, but I’ll vouch for them any day. Besides the food court, and the Great American Cookies in my closet mall, The Auntie Anne’s is one of the things I look forward to.

[bultSHRD]

Company Man, your videos are so consistently good. They're addictive. Thanks for all the work you put in to your channel.

[MoonWielder]

Auntie Anne’s pretzel dogs with the cheese melted on top with a cup of cinnamon sugar pretzel bites have always been my family’s go-to at the mall for years.

[wylanvallotton]

Prefer the pretzels from Wetzels, but I will say it that Auntie Anne's is more consistent.

[safeandsound]

Man the story of Anne, about how her depression and tragedy ultimately leading to a beautiful success story, is unique and odd enough sure, but cliche aside, it spoke to me, and I needed to hear that today. Thank you man. I love your channel. Your production quality is unmatched. Keep it up. I love that you make learning fun and exciting to average viewers. You have a very wide and diverse target audience that you flourish with. Merry late Christmas Company Man, happy new year. I appreciate you.

[advisingbob]

Social Media oligopoly. Me: *sleep*
Pretzel oligopoly. Me: *awakens*

[mind-of-neo]

Annie's is definitely a nice treat that I associate with day-trips on the road and trips to the mall, both of which are special occasions for me.

[LordSpacePig]

In southern Illinois, there is an Auntie Anne’s food truck that travels around to all the small towns. They announce where they will be ahead of time and there is always a massive line when the truck comes to town despite rain, snow, or cold!

[Meatball]

My old boss in a store in the mall was once told by an auntie Anne’s owner that each pretzel only had 100 calories. After eating 2 a day for 6 months, he then realized he was talking only about the baked ones without butter…

[jthomashair]

I love Auntie Anne’s. There’s two in the Charlotte airport and I ALWAYS stop at one of them. Never heard of Wetzel’s. However, my very favorite growing up in Texas was a place called Mr. Pretzels at the mall in Lewisville. Not sure if it was a chain but it looks like that location still exists unchanged from 20 years ago.

[jack_rabbit]

auntie anne's is the best pretzels i've ever had outside of traditional amish-made soft pretzels. the softness, the butter and salt ratios... the honey mustard dip! omg that stuff is so addictive