Ep 24: Kristen Hartman: Category President, Speciality Brands, at Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, and Carvel

Creating a brand that becomes a part of culture and community is a marketing mission for many, but few can pull it off as well as Kristen Hartman, President of the Specialty Category at Focus Brands. The heart of her success is a freshly baked Cinnabon, rich in taste and aroma. Today we speak with Kristen to find out how she created Cinnabon’s success and open the show by first taking a look at Kristen’s background in the industry, exploring her new role as we go. After hearing about what working on the Cinnabon Brand means to her, Kristen shares thrilling anecdotes about the entertainment industry, and how a Cinnabon reference helped set the narrative for Breaking Bad spin-off series, Better Call Saul. Far from done, Kristen has enjoyed a successful career thus far. In the latter half of the episode, listeners will find out what she learned from working for companies, and how the Cinnabon strategy has changed in light of the coronavirus. Stay tuned and you’ll catch a glimpse into the future, as Kristen shares details about how Cinnabon is evolving and why pandemic has accelerated growth in some areas. To find out the secrets behind franchising, as well as Kristen’s advice for juniors looking to break into the industry, be sure to tune into this delicious episode.