Restaurant News Source reports that Scottsdale, Arizona-based Cold Stone Creamery launched its first franchise location in India at the Lulu Mall in Kochi, in the western state of Kerala. Kahala Brands, the parent company of the Cold Stone Creamery brand has joined forces with Tablez Food Company, part of Lulu Group International, LLC, to bring the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience to India and neighboring Sri Lanka.
The opening event saw a crowd of 4000 people in attendance, with one family driving 150 miles from the capital city of Kerala to be one of the first to taste the premium ice cream brand. “Over the next five years, Tablez Food Company plans to invest around $11-13 million in the Cold Stone Creamery business across India and Sri Lanka,” said Shafeena Yussuf Ali, chairperson at Tablez Food Company. The company aims to open a total of 40 locations in India and five in Sri Lanka over the next five years.
