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The Philly Pretzel Factory is a soft pretzel bakery that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and sells about 125 million soft pretzels a year. It was opened in 1998 by Dan DiZio, and now has over 150 locations throughout the country. This pretzel bakery sells "Philly-style soft pretzels", and their products have become increasingly popular as pretzels have become the world's third-most popular snack.

Company History
The Philly Pretzel Factory was started in Mayfair, Philadelphia in 1998 by Dan DiZio and Len Lehman, Dan's college roommate. Dan began his pretzel career when he was eleven, by selling pretzels at an intersection. He also recruited kids to sell pretzels in other parts of the city. In 1998, after his college graduation, Dan and Len decided to open up their own pretzel bakery and it was a huge success. In the second year, it was so successful that people were approaching them with franchising offers. So in 2004, Dan started Soft Pretzel Franchise Systems Inc., which franchised the bakery across Philadelphia, and now operates in 12 states.

Pretzel History in the United States
Pretzels were invented in Italy, and spread throughout Europe as they grew in popularity. The pretzel came to America when the Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants brought the snack with them to the new country. Pretzels in America probably started around 1861, and the first was baked in Lititz, Pennsylvania. There is a legend that the famous pretzel baker, Ambrose Roth, obtained his pretzel recipe from a homeless person in exchange for food and shelter for a night. The recipe was then used by Roth's apprentice, Julius Sturgis, to supply some Northern soldiers during the Civil War with pretzels "for their aid and comfort." The popular snack spread in the U.S. and now Philadelphia soft pretzels are one of the more famous products produced in the city.

Philadelphia Soft Pretzels
Soft pretzels are an iconic item of Philadelphia, and as such have their own style that differs from other soft pretzels. Philadelphia soft pretzels have a figure-8 shape, and chewy texture that makes them unique.

Pretzels
- Regular Non-Salted Pretzel

- Regular Salted Pretzel

- Regular Salted Mini Pretzel

- Pretzel Twist

- Cinnamon Twist

- Rivets

Special
- Cheesesteak Pretzel

- Pretzel Dog with Cheese

- Pretzel Sausage with Cheese

- Pizza Pretzel with Pepperoni

Dips
- Spicy Brown Mustard

- Superhot Mustard

- Yellow Mustard

- Honey Mustard

- Cheese Dip

- Cinnamon Dip

- Chocolate Dip

- Buttercreme Dip

- Philly Cream Cheese

Growth
The Philly Pretzel Factory has expanded at a rapid rate since its founding in 1998: from 2010 to 2015, the company went from 111 stores to 153. The company hopes to have 500 stores by 2020, and they hope to have some of these new locations in cities abroad, such as in Nassau in the Bahamas. However, the company still remains largely anchored to the Northeast of the U.S.. 70 of their 153 stores are located in Pennsylvania, 25 of those in Philadelphia, and 40 stores in New Jersey. This company will need to overcome one major obstacle as they grow. According to David Allen of St. Joseph's University, because Philly Pretzel Factory did not invent the pretzel, it must distinguish itself from other pretzel producers in order to be successful.