Atlanta - 23 April, 1999 -

AFC Enterprises announced that it had signed a development agreement for 15 Cinnabon Bakeries in Venezuela. This is AFC's first entry into South America and its second international franchise development agreement for Cinnabon since AFC acquired Cinnabon, Inc. four months ago. In addition to Cinnabon, AFC's portfolio includes Churchs Chicken, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Seattle's Best and Torrefazione coffees and Chesapeake Bagel Bakery. AFC's new franchise partner in Venezuela is Inversiones Great Food C.A., owned by Jose L. Haratz, Luis J. Marcia and Roberto Ricciardi, who will open the first of 15 Cinnabons in the capital city of Caracas by summer of 1999. According to Haratz, who along with his partners, are experienced franchisors with interest in Mailboxes Etc. and retail clothing and manufacturing, have wanted to develop Cinnabon for Venezuela for years. "Cinnabon offers a fabulous product which will be very popular in Venezuela. Our management team has been very impressed with the strength of AFC Enterprises and its streamlined operation and support services." The South American deal comes on the heels of a 130-unit agreement to develop 65 Cinnabon bakeries and 65 Seattle's Best Coffee cafes in six Middle East countries. The first co-branded coffee/bakery opened this month in Saudi Arabia. Since the company was founded six years ago, AFC's International division has experienced rapid growth, with plans to triple the number of international units from 192 in 1993 to more than 600 units by the year end. The leading cinnamon roll bakery retailer in the world, Cinnabon, Inc. operates and franchises 359 retail cinnamon roll bakeries in 39 states, Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Founded in Seattle in 1985, Cinnabon bakeries operate in high traffic malls, transportation centers, airports and supermarkets. The bakeries are located in 300 to 1,500 square foot facilities and serve fresh cinnamon rolls made with proprietary Markara(R) cinnamon and topped with sweet, rich cream cheese-based icing. Cinnabon posted system-wide sales of $140 million in 1998 with its 144 franchised and 214 company-owed bakeries. AFC Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's largest operators and franchisors of restaurants, bakeries and cafes with more than 3,200 locations in 28 countries worldwide. AFC and its chairman, Frank Belatti, have been given industry recognition by being named the 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year by the International Franchising Association, the 1998 Equal Opportunity Award by the Atlanta Urban League, the 1997 Operator of the Year by Nation's Restaurant News. AFC Enterprises, 770-353-3152

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