NexCen Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXC), owner of the Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo’s, Pretzel Time, Pretzelmaker, and Great American Cookies franchised brands, has entered into a co-branding agreement with Freshëns Quality Brands, a provider of freshly-blended fruit smoothies in more than 1,200 locations nationwide.
The companies have agreed to offer NexCen’s pretzel and cookie franchisees the opportunity to add Freshëns smoothies in a co-branded store. This opportunity is available to approximately 650 NexCen franchised stores.
“Freshëns smoothies offer a complementary new product line to our pretzel and cookie franchise stores that will drive increased store sales,” says NexCen CEO Robert W. D’Loren. “We have conducted product tests with Freshëns for a number of months, with very favorable results. Many of our franchisees are enthusiastically planning to add Freshëns products.”
“This is an ideal opportunity to extend the distribution of Freshëns products through a growing network of premium quality franchise operators,” says John Stern, CEO of Freshëns. “We look forward to working with NexCen to extend our strong history of beverage innovation to a new partner.”
The NexCen-Freshëns strategic agreement also includes testing of co-branded ice cream and yogurt stores. The agreement is part of an ongoing initiative to expand the menus in NexCen’s 1,250 franchised quick service restaurants.
