Ice cream is a globally celebrated treat with people from all over the world appreciating the cool, refreshing, and creamy goodness that it offers.
Some brands have become household names in the world of ice cream though, making flavors and experiences that stand out amongst the rest.
What are the most famous ice cream franchises in the world? Brands like Baskin and Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, Ben and Jerry’s, and Kona Ice can be found wherever ice cream is eaten.
These franchises have storefront ice cream parlors and consumer products to purchase, so you can enjoy their tastes at home if you can’t get to an ice creamery.
Whether you like to visit an ice creamery in person to appreciate its goodness or prefer to treat yourself at home to your favorite brand, there are so many great franchises to enjoy.
We’ve got the ultimate list of ice cream franchises known for their deliciousness for you to tick off your bucket list.
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The Most Famous Ice Cream Franchises in the USA
It’s no secret that we love our ice cream parlors in the US, and the same goes for premium quality ice cream you can buy at the store.
With that in mind, we’ve counted down the top 9 ice cream franchise in the country and a little more about what they bring to the table in taste and quality.
#1 Ben & Jerry’s
Arguably one of the biggest names in ice cream and leader of the home sales market, Ben & Jerry’s is no stranger to experimentation.
The brand is known for its unique flavors and catchy names, and since their beginnings in the 70s, they’ve expanded more in consumer products and with fewer ice cream parlors to visit.
Ben & Jerry’s is now owned by Unilever but they continue to churn out delicious and exciting ice cream, including non-dairy options to suit vegans and those with special dietary requirements.
They’re always pushing the boundaries in flavors and their little tubs of joy have been found in everyone’s freezer at some time or another.
#2 Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen is about as American as apple pie and since being founded in 1940 and franchising since 1944, they now have thousands of locations across the country.
They consistently deliver delicious ice cream and customer service, as well as trying new flavors like their Blizzard specials including Snickerdoodle and Pumpkin Pie.
The brand has expanded to do other foods, but ice cream is where their heart is, most notably their Blizzards and sundaes.
If you want the true American cuisine experience, you can’t miss visiting one of their locations across the country.
#3 Baskin-Robbins
When you think of ice cream stores in the US, Baskin-Robbins is one of the first names that comes to mind.
Their famous 31 flavors were one of the earliest and most famous ice cream parlors that the country had, and they haven’t failed to continue offering more.
The delicious stores have all been updated and try to create a unique experience depending on their location, including bright colors, modern décor, and mural walls designed for the local community.
Baskin-Robbins is all about ice cream and they make everything from take-home tubs to milkshakes, and ice cream cakes.
#4 Kona Ice
Kona Ice is a truck-based franchise that has grown exponentially from what it first offered customers but still with a major focus on shaved ice treats.
Today, the Hawaiian-themed Kona Ice has expanded its range and now offers products aimed at adults as well, including lavender and spritzer flavored desserts.
The Kona Ice franchise is available day and night, with different trucks for each setting, and they also offer catering for weddings, parties, and other events.
Although technically not ice cream, it’s still an iced dessert, and one of the biggest franchises by far that also affordable to buy into.
#5 Cold Stone Creamery
When Cold Stone Creamery came onto the scene, it offered something we ice cream lovers had never experienced.
Today, the do-it-yourself ice cream parlor is bigger than ever, and they give you options to take home tubs or create something in-store to enjoy. Franchise options are available and there are now 1,100 locations to be found across the United States to choose from.
Cold Stone Creamery does things a little differently and creates fresh ice cream each day that’s blended with the customer’s choice of nuts, candy, cookies, fruit, and more.
It’s a unique experience that changed the way we look at ice cream franchises and only continues to grow in popularity because of how much input the customer gets in the tasty process.
#6 YogenFruz
If there’s one thing people like more than ice cream, it’s frozen yogurt, and YogenFruz has topped the market in this category.
This Canadian brand was founded in the mid-80s by three brothers in Ontario, and today, they have over a thousand different locations scattered around the world, with just 50 of them being in the US.
The YogenFruz difference is that they create a probiotic-rich frozen yogurt that’s then mixed with other fruits and toppings, as well as options like dairy-free ingredients on offer.
It’s similar in a way to Cold Stone Creamery in that it gives consumers more control over what they’re eating and makes frozen yogurt more of a fun experience than it would be otherwise.
#7 Mr. Softee
There are some things about your childhood you’ll never forget, and chasing down the local Mr. Softee as it drove through your neighborhood is one of them.
Today, Mr. Softee is still a booming franchise in the US and family-owned, but with the same music and trucks that everyone has grown to love.
Mr. Softee was founded in 1956 in Philadelphia but didn’t start offering franchises until 2000, so they went many years creating these memories on their own.
Today, instead of waiting around and hoping the ice cream man would stop by, you can use the Mr. Softeesmartphone app to track the trucks that are nearby. Although modernized, their flavors are as simple and delicious as ever.
#8 Carvel
No ice cream list would be complete without Carvel, as one of the first companies to deliver ice cream to the masses, and offer a franchise opportunity to potential business owners.
Their most famous product is the iconic Cookie Puss ice cream cake, and it’s grown so big that today you can purchase it as an IPA for grown-up kids who are craving a sip of beer as well.
Today, the Carvel franchise is found in just a few hundred locations around the US, with around 40 of them in other countries.
The brand offers so much more than just ice cream today including cakes, pies, and other tasty treats available at their shop fronts, as well as in-store products found in supermarkets so you can take it home with you.
#9 Rita’s Italian Ice
If you prefer shaved ice over ice cream, there’s nothing better than Rita’s Italian Ice. The famous brand was founded in 1984 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania but didn’t start offering franchise opportunities until 1989.
Today, there are just a few hundred of these stores across the US but they’re as famous as ever.
What makes Rita’s such a stand out is the original Italian Ice recipe that they used, which was purchased from the owner’s neighbor many years ago and has earned them their popularity.
Since then, they’ve adapted their menu to include frozen drinks, sundaes, frozen custard, gelato, and more, giving you all of the tasty frozen treats you could ever ask for.
Related Questions
Visiting a renowned ice cream franchise is just one way to taste some mind-blowing ice cream flavors, but making your own is even better.
If you’ve been thinking about starting an ice cream business yourself but still have questions, we’ve got the answers that can help you out.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an Ice Cream Parlor?
The costs for starting a business can vary dramatically depending on overheads and initial start up fees. However, you can assume that to start an ice cream parlor from scratch without assistance from a franchise program you might spend around $50,000 before it even opens.
Is Ice Cream a Profitable Business?
Selling ice cream as a business has the potential to earn good money provided you have a solid product and business plan in place. An average ice cream business can expect a cost margin of around 40%, according to rough estimates, but this depends on the success of your business and how good the product is.
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Last Updated on January 19, 2022 by Ice Cream Admin
