The Cold Stone Creamery brand continues to pave its way internationally with its newest locations in Kenya. Kahala Brands, the parent company of Cold Stone Creamery, signed a 10-year master franchise agreement with Om Nom Nom Mauritius Ltd. (ONN Ltd.) in Kenya. There are seven stores slated to open over a five-year period, and the first location will be in the capital city of Nairobi, scheduled to open in late September 2014.
"Om Nom Nom has a great understanding of the Kenyan market as their experience in the food and beverage industry is vast," says Eddy Jimenez, senior vice president of international operations and development at Kahala Brands. "Om Nom Nom already conducts business in the Nairobi market and their in-market knowledge is priceless. Cold Stone Creamery will be the first of its kind in the Kenya market; we are extremely excited about expanding into East Africa.”
ONN Ltd. brings more than 40 years of experience and managerial skills in several industries in East Africa including retail, hotel, catering, and real estate. They also bring a strong food and beverage foothold across the region with new start-ups in over 15 markets. The ONN Ltd. business philosophy creates great food, service, and integrity, all which aligns with the core business values that the Cold Stone Creamery brand was built upon.
The Cold Stone Creamery experience for the Kenyan consumer will not just be about best-in-class ice cream products, but it will also be about best-in-service with products that deliver value.
"We are excited about our new collaboration and to have the opportunity to introduce ‘The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience’ to the ice cream lovers of Kenya," says Roseanne Owiti, district manager for the Cold Stone Creamery brand in Kenya. "Cold Stone Creamery offers the freshest, highest quality ice cream products and allows its customers to combine the ice cream with a variety of mix-ins, offering a theatre-like experience for consumers. As we have grown to know the Cold Stone Creamery brand, we feel like they are in the business of making people happy, which is right in-line with our business philosophy. It's about making great memories for our customers and we are delighted to become a part of the Cold Stone Creamery family and feel the brand and its fun, unique customer experience is a perfect fit for the East African market."
Cold Stone Creamery has continued to make strong key moves into the international market in recent years. The international growth of Cold Stone Creamery began in November 2005 when the company opened its first international store in Tokyo, Japan. Today, Cold Stone Creamery stores are operating in nearly 300 international locations and over 25 different countries, including the Philippines, Cyprus, Kuwait, Qatar, Trinidad, Nigeria, Egypt, and Indonesia.
