Get Your Free Pretzel!

The local Philly Pretzel Factory franchise will mark National Pretzel Day on Tuesday, April 26, by giving a free soft pretzel to anyone who walks in the door.

"You don't have to buy anything," Philly Pretzel Factory regional franchise manager Jesse Maurer said Friday. "People can just walk right in and get a free pretzel."

More than 100 Philly Pretzel Factory locations between upstate New York and South Carolina will be giving away free pretzels to mark the unofficial holiday, which gained renewed attention in 2003 when former Pennsylvania governor and Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell championed a day to commemorate the tasty treat.

The Gloucester Township Philly Pretzel Factory, owned by Trish Groff and Jo Engler, produces an average of 2,000 full-size soft pretzels each day, according to Maurer. That number will jump by 30 to 40 percent to accommodate the larger-than-usual crowd expected for National Pretzel Day.

While giving away the product for free isn't a sustainable, long-term business model, Maurer says participation in the free giveaway has proven to be a valuable marketing tool for Philly Pretzel Factory franchises.

"People love 'free,'" he said. "We obviously want to get more people tasting the product. ... (The National Pretzel Day promotion) is a great way to thank the people who are regular customers and to also bring in some new customers."

Groff and Engler bought the local franchise, which opened in June 2007, last August.

Philly Pretzel Factory was founded by college friends Dan DiZio and Len Lehman in 1998, opening with a single location in the City of Brotherly Love.

“We have an incredible fanatical following. (National Pretzel Day) is about us having a little fun, giving back, and feeding our guest’s need for great taste,” said DiZio, who is company president.

Visit the Philly Pretzel Factory website to learn more.