In 1988, Anne and Jonas Beiler purchased a Pennsylvania farmers'-market stand, where they experimented with dough until they created a pretzel that their customers loved. Today, at more than 1,150 locations of Auntie Anne's worldwide, other pretzel makers still hand-roll their original recipe, but have added to the menu with inventive options, such as the pepperoni pretzel and eight signature dipping sauces.

The team constantly explores new uses for the dough, too, such as wrapping it around hot dogs, slicing it into bite-size nuggets. To transform the snack into more of a meal, they pair it with specialty drinks, including frozen lemonade mixers.

When not twisting dough, Auntie Anne's team partners with the national charitable organization Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which raises funds to fight childhood cancer. They also reach out to surrounding communities through fundraising opportunities.