New York's Magnolia Bakery to open Salt Lake City store in 2026

Driving the news: The bakery's first U.S. franchise location was awarded to Salt Lake City last month after the company launched its domestic franchising program.

• The move to franchise in the U.S. comes after the bakery said it found success in diverse markets.
• Since opening in 1996, the shop has rolled out storefronts in Los Angeles, Chicago and countries including India, the Philippines and Qatar.

The intrigue: Locals' propensity for sweet treats, the city's rapid growth and its appeal to families were key factors in the decision, CEO Bobbie Lloyd told Axios Salt Lake City.

• "It checks all the boxes of the many things we look for," Lloyd said.

The big picture: Utah, the birthplace of dirty soda shops and several gourmet cookie companies, is well known for its sugar culture.

• Utah led the nation in candy purchases via Instacart in 2022.

• A 2015 Hershey Co. study found that Utahns bought sweets at nearly double the national average, Bloomberg reported.

Between the lines: The bakery is known for its banana pudding, cupcakes and other American baked goods.

• It bills itself as the "world's most famous bakery."

What's next: It takes around nine months to a year to open a new shop, Lloyd noted.

• "Hopefully it won't take a year, because [the franchisees] are aggressively scouting locations now," she said.