Cinnabon exits UK market, closes all 12 branches after five years

Cinnabon has closed all of its remaining United Kingdom outlets, the franchise partner that brought the US bakery chain to the country announced, ending a five-year run that saw ambitious expansion plans pared back.

EG On The Move, which partnered with Cinnabon to operate the brand in the UK, said it had made "the strategic decision to close all Cinnabon locations operated in the UK" and described the move as part of a shift toward its core convenience retail business. The chain launched in the UK in 2020 and had initially targeted as many as 150 stores across the country within five years, but the operation never reached that scale. The business opened roughly 20 sites at its peak before the number dwindled to 12.

The spokesperson for EG On The Move said the decision "was not a decision taken lightly, but it reflects the strategic shift to focus on our core convenience retail business. This decision aligns with our wider business strategy to focus on areas where we can deliver the greatest value to our customers." The statement thanked staff, the Cinnabon brand team and customers for their support and said EG On The Move "remains committed to providing exceptional food and retail experiences across our 150-site network."

Customers discovered several branches had closed without prior public notice earlier in the week and the Cinnabon UK website was taken offline. The chain is best known for large cinnamon buns topped with items such as cream cheese frosting and Biscoff spread. Locations that have closed included sites in London — including Oxford Street and Camden — and outlets in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol.

Social media responses from customers reflected disappointment at the sudden exit. One user wrote, "They've shut all the Cinnabon stores I'm about to riot." Another said, "Today, I learnt that Cinnabon has pulled out of the UK completely, and I'm devastated. This is worse than a breakup." A third posted, "CINNABON UK CLOSED NOOOO."

The UK franchise's closures follow a period of slower-than-forecast expansion. While the original 2020 plan envisioned rapid roll-out across high streets and travel hubs, the roll-out stalled and some early sites were subsequently shuttered. EG On The Move indicated the company will continue to invest in its convenience retail operations and evolve its offerings to meet changing customer needs.

Representatives for Cinnabon in the United States did not immediately provide comment on the UK closures. The UK exit will remove the physical presence of the brand from major British cities after a five-year effort to establish the chain in the market.