Cold Stone Creamery executives recently began Year 2 of their foray into selling ice cream overseas with the goal of growing the brand in markets such as Mexico, Canada and South America.
So far per store sales at its 12 international stores in the Pacific Rim are running at about $1 million annually, about three times higher than at U.S. stores.
In December, the ice-cream franchise company elevated Lee Knowlton to president of international and new business development. Knowlton was part of the executive team that introduced Cold Stone’s signature super-rich ice cream, which can be personalized with candy, fruit and nuts, and the company’s singing-and-dancing style of serving it to Japan in 2005 and Korea in 2006.He reports directly to CEO and Chairman Doug Ducey, although Jim Flaum remains president and chief operating officer.
When Knowlton sat down with The Republic, Cold Stone was near signing a deal with a partner to bring Cold Stone to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The deal is expected to be signed this week.
In the company’s Scottsdale office, Knowlton’s crew was helping managers from China and Taiwan learn to make shakes, create cakes and serve up made-to-order ice cream so they can open stores in April.
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