What Cold Stone Creamery does

Cold Stone Creamery is a privately held ice cream parlor franchise founded in 1988 in Tempe, Arizona, and now operating from corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona under parent company Kahala Brands (portfolio of 22 QSR concepts). The chain operates approximately 1,500 locations across more than 28 countries through a franchise and master franchise model, with the corporate entity running on a lean 51-100 employee HQ organization that focuses on franchise development, brand marketing, R&D, and supply chain support. Its core product is super-premium ice cream made fresh daily in each store and mixed on a frozen granite stone using a signature 'chop, chop, fold, fold' technique, allowing customers to combine ice cream with candy, cakes, fruits, or nuts. Supporting product lines include Signature and customizable Creations, sundaes, milkshakes, smoothies, ice cream cakes (signature, birthday, custom, kids themed, petite), ice cream cupcakes, cookie sandwiches, ice cream pies, and a Silk plant-based frozen dessert line developed with Danone North America.

The business generates revenue through a combination of franchise fees and royalties from global franchisees, retail sales at company-owned and franchise locations, sales of pre-packed retail pints, gift cards, and online ordering for pickup and delivery. Pricing is set at the franchise level and varies by location. Distribution is franchised retail supplemented by an in-house online ordering platform (orders.ordercoldstone.com, launched September 2020) and a mobile app powered by SpendGo for the My Cold Stone Club loyalty program. Marketing centers on a recurring cadence of limited-time product launches tied to entertainment IP (Warner Bros./DC, Nintendo, OREO, General Mills, Just Born/PEEPS), seasonal flavors (Dubai Chocolate, Lucky Charms, spring and holiday rotations), charitable initiatives (30+ year Best Buddies International partnership), and app-exclusive promotions. International expansion proceeds via master franchise agreements, with active development in Malaysia, Chile, and existing operations across the Philippines, Kuwait, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, and Trinidad, among others.

Name

Cold Stone Creamery

Legal name

Kahala Franchising, L.L.C.

Website

https://coldstonecreamery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cold Stone Creamery is a privately held, franchise-based ice cream parlor chain operating nearly 1,500 locations in 28+ countries, serving consumers premium ice cream mixed on a frozen granite stone, alongside cakes, shakes, and limited-time entertainment-partnered flavors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ice Cream Parlors

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813), Retail Bakeries (311811)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE), Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE), Mobile Dessert Vendors (Ice Cream/Dessert Trucks & Carts) (THAFAHAG)

Keywords

• Ice cream franchise
• Frozen desserts retail
• Ice cream cakes
• Franchise restaurant services
• Specialty ice cream

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Ice Cream and Treats Sales: Revenue from direct sales of ice cream, signature creations, sundaes, shakes, smoothies, and other frozen treats to consumers at franchise and company-owned locations
2. Ice Cream Cakes and Bakery Products: Sales of signature cakes, birthday cakes, custom cakes, petite cakes, ice cream cupcakes, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and ice cream pies for celebrations and catering
3. Gift Cards and Retail Products: Sale of physical and digital gift cards, as well as retail products. Also includes 'Give Back' eGift cards where a percentage of proceeds are donated to charitable causes
4. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Revenue from franchise development fees, ongoing royalties, and franchise support services including development, real estate, design and construction, training, operations, purchasing and supply chain, R&D, marketing and public relations
5. Franchise royalties: Ongoing royalties from franchisees who operate Cold Stone Creamery locations worldwide

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cold Stone Creamery operates a franchise chain of ice cream parlors that handcraft super-premium ice cream fresh in-store daily and mix it with customer-selected candies, cakes, fruits, or nuts on a frozen granite stone. The menu spans Signature Creations, Create-Your-Own Creations, sundaes, milkshakes, smoothies, ice cream cakes, cupcakes, cookie sandwiches, pies, sorbet, and Silk plant-based frozen dessert, complemented by online ordering, a mobile app, and a loyalty rewards program.

Product overview

Cold Stone Creamery is an ice cream parlor chain offering a unified product experience centered on handcrafted ice cream made fresh daily in each store. The core product offering consists of Signature Creations (pre-designed combinations) and Create Your Own Creations (customized orders), both mixed on a frozen granite stone. Supporting product lines include ice cream cakes (Signature, Birthday, Custom, Kids Themed, and Petite varieties), Ice Cream Cupcakes, Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches, and Ice Cream Pies. Beverage offerings encompass Milkshakes and Smoothies. The company also provides plant-based options through Silk Plant-Based Frozen Dessert (in partnership with Danone) and Sorbet. Loyalty is facilitated via My Cold Stone Club Rewards program, while Gift Cards and Online Ordering (web and mobile) serve as supplementary services. With approximately 1,500 locations globally, the chain operates primarily through franchisees under parent company Kahala Brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Cold Stone Club® Rewards: The company's loyalty rewards program that allows members to earn points and redeem rewards.
• Silk® Plant-Based Frozen Dessert
• Creations™

Products and services

• Signature Creations Pre-designed ice cream combinations featuring specific mix-ins, toppings, and flavor profiles mixed on a frozen granite stone, available to individual consumers at Cold Stone Creamery stores and via online ordering.
• Create Your Own Creations Customized ice cream experience where consumers select a base ice cream flavor and mix-ins (candies, cakes, fruits, or nuts) that are combined on a frozen granite stone.
• Sundaes Traditional ice cream sundae servings such as Who You Callin' Shortcake and Banana Split Decision, sold to individual consumers in stores and online.
• Mix & Go Ready-to-go ice cream servings designed for on-the-move consumption at Cold Stone Creamery locations.
• Pre-Packed Ice Cream Packaged ice cream pints sold in Cold Stone Creamery stores in flavors such as Peanut Butter Cupperfection, Cake Batter Batter Batter, Founders Favorite, and OREO Overload.
• Signature Cakes Pre-designed ice cream cakes with multiple flavors and layers, including Cheesecake Named Desire, Chocolate Chipper, Coffeehouse Crunch, and Mint Chip varieties.
• Birthday Cakes Specialized ice cream cakes designed for birthday celebrations, ordered in-store or through Cold Stone Creamery's cake ordering platform.
• Custom Cakes Bespoke ice cream cakes customized to individual customer specifications, available through the cake ordering platform.
• Kids Themed Cakes Ice cream cakes featuring children's themes for birthday parties and family celebrations.
• Petite Cakes Smaller-sized ice cream cakes designed for intimate gatherings or individual servings.
• Ice Cream Cupcakes Hybrid cupcake-ice cream treats with cake bases and ice cream toppings, including Sweet Cream, Double Chocolate Devotion, Cake Batter Delux, and Reese's Ice Cream Cups varieties.
• Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches Frozen treats combining cookies with ice cream, including Kiss and Tell Chocolate, Cake Batter Sprinkle, Cookie Crumby Yum, and Perfect Duet varieties.
• Ice Cream Pies Frozen ice cream pies with pie crusts, including Pumpkin Pie, Caramel Apple Pie, Cookie Dough Pie, S'mores O' More Pie, and Caramel Turtle Treat Pie varieties.
• Milkshakes Blended ice cream beverages including Savory Strawberry, Very Vanilla, Cake N Shake, Milk and Cookies, Oh Fudge, Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Shake, and Chocolate Silk Shake varieties.
• Smoothies Fruit-based blended frozen smoothies including Strawberry Banana, Mango Pineapple, Blueberry Banana, Strawberry Mango, and Pineapple Blueberry varieties.
• Silk Plant-Based Frozen Dessert Dairy-free plant-based chocolate almondmilk frozen dessert developed in partnership with Danone North America's Silk brand, providing a non-dairy alternative at Cold Stone Creamery stores.
• Sorbet Non-dairy fruit-based frozen dessert alternative to traditional ice cream, available at Cold Stone Creamery locations.
• Mini Catering Catering service offering smaller-portion ice cream and dessert options for events, parties, and corporate gatherings, available to enterprise and individual hosts.
• My Cold Stone Club Rewards Loyalty rewards program enabling members to earn points on purchases and redeem rewards, with app-exclusive deals, managed through the SpendGo platform.
• Gift Cards Plastic and digital gift cards for purchase, including bulk orders and Give Back eGift cards with a charitable donation component, distributed via wgiftcard.com.
• DIY Ice Cream Cupcakes Kit At-home do-it-yourself kit enabling customers to assemble their own ice cream cupcakes, sold through the Cold Stone Creamery website.
• Online Ordering Web-based and mobile ordering system for store pickup and delivery of ice cream, cakes, shakes, and other frozen treats, accessible at orders.ordercoldstone.com.
• Franchise Program Franchise offering enabling entrepreneurs and master franchisees to open and operate Cold Stone Creamery locations, with franchisor-provided support including real estate, design, construction, training, operations, supply chain, R&D, marketing, and PR.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Warner Bros. / DC StudiosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Collaboration for limited-time Supergirl-themed ice cream products timed to the film's theatrical release. Includes Kettle Corn Ice Cream Creation, themed shake, and themed cake available nationwide through July 2026. Warner Bros. preparing international rollout beginning June 2026.
• Dubai Chocolate TrendminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Limited-time Dubai Chocolate Creation featuring chocolate ice cream with pistachio cream, kataifi, and chocolate shavings, inspired by trending Dubai chocolate style. Available April 1-30, 2026 at participating U.S. locations.
• General Mills (Lucky Charms)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Annual cross-promotion featuring Lucky Charms themed ice cream for St. Patrick's Day. Includes 'Ice Cream at the End of the Rainbow' Creation and 'Sprinkled with Charms' shake. Jana Schneider, VP of National Programs at Kahala Brands noted the return of this annual collaboration.
• NintendoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2022Multi-year partnership creating game-inspired Creations and ice cream cakes for Nintendo Switch titles. Featured Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Party Superstars. Includes sweepstakes with Nintendo Switch prizes. Partnership extended into 2022 and beyond.
• Best Buddies InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Annual fundraising promotion benefiting Best Buddies International, a nonprofit creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Features specialty stickers and promotional 'Better Together Creation'. Also includes employment program placing individuals with IDD in paid positions at Cold Stone locations. Partnership spans over 30 years.
• OREO (Mondelez International)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2022Summer celebration of OREO's 110th birthday featuring OREO Crème Ice Cream nationwide. Includes OREO Cookie Goldmine and OREO Cookie Confetti & Crème Creations, plus Cookies & Creamery Ice Cream Cake.
• Just Born / PEEPScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Seasonal flavor partnership creating PEEPS Flavored Ice Cream for spring. Featured PEEPS Sweet Spring Creation and shake with marshmallow-flavored ice cream and decorative toppings.
• Silk / Danone North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2022Collaboration to introduce first-ever plant-based frozen dessert at Cold Stone. Launched Silk Chocolate Almondmilk Frozen Dessert with 'Don't Cry Over Spilled Silk' Creation. Silk provides plant-based dairy alternative expertise while Cold Stone provides frozen dessert innovation and retail distribution.
• Bethenny Frankel's bstrong initiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2020Charitable partnership during COVID-19 crisis. Launched Give Back eGift card campaign where proceeds supported communities in crisis through Bethenny Frankel's bstrong initiative. 10% donation with maximum annual donation of $100,000.
• Keith HaringminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2017Renowned artist who created the iconic Best Buddies logo featuring his vibrant artistic style. Artwork featured on specialty stickers for Best Buddies fundraising promotions.
• Srivijaya Sdn. Bhd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 August 2017Master Franchise Agreement to bring Cold Stone Creamery to Malaysia. Plans to open 20 stores over five years, beginning with Kuala Lumpur. Company shareholders have experience with other F&B brands including Las Vacas Meat Shop and Torii Yakitori Restaurant.
• Discovery ChannelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2017Partnership for Shark Week programming. Created Sea Salt Sweet Cream Ice Cream, Great White Bite Creation, and Deep Sea Delight Ice Cream Cupcake. Also included Shark Week swag giveaways and social media campaign.
• Warner Bros. Pictures / DC EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2017Movie partnership for Wonder Woman film release. Created Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream and Wonder Woman Berry Bold Creation with special co-branded cups. Partnership has continued across multiple DC films including Aquaman, Supergirl.
• PJ Chile SpA / Drake QSRcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 February 2017Master Licensee partnership for Chile market. Launched Grab and Go product line as first step introducing Cold Stone brand to Chilean consumers. Drake QSR operates 50+ units throughout Chile.
• Kahala BrandscoreOthersParent company of Cold Stone Creamery. Kahala Brands is described as one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 22 quick service restaurant concepts. Operates as Kahala Franchising, L.L.C. and Kahala Management, L.L.C.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dairy Queen: Largest U.S. franchised ice cream and frozen treat chain with a comparable blended menu of dipped cones, Blizzards, cakes, and meals. Closest direct comparable on franchise scale, dessert-forward positioning, and cake/catering revenue mix.
• Baskin-Robbins: Global franchise ice cream chain with 31-flavor branding, ice cream cakes, and a similar franchise-led retail model. Direct comparable on product mix (scooped ice cream, cakes, custom treats) and international franchising footprint.
• Marble Slab Creamery: Premium franchise ice cream chain built on a frozen slab mixing concept essentially identical to Cold Stone's granite stone method. Most direct concept competitor and benchmark for the experiential mix-in format.
• Carvel: Iconic U.S. ice cream and ice cream cake franchise (owned by Rich Products) with a comparable cake-led product strategy and franchised retail footprint. Closest peer on the celebration/cake side of the business.
• Rita's Italian Ice: Large U.S. frozen dessert franchise chain specializing in Italian ice, custard, and gelati. Direct comparable as a multi-hundred-unit franchised frozen dessert concept competing for similar treat occasions.
• Friendly's: U.S. casual dining and ice cream chain with a long heritage in scooped ice cream, sundaes, and ice cream cakes. Comparable on family-occasion positioning and broad frozen dessert menu in a sit-down format.

Broad incumbents

• Häagen-Dazs: Global super-premium ice cream brand owned by General Mills with both retail (grocery) and foodservice (scoop shop) distribution. Comparable on premium positioning and global brand recognition; broader portfolio play than Cold Stone.
• Ben & Jerry's: Unilever-owned premium ice cream brand with scoop shops, grocery pints, and a strong activism-led brand identity. Comparable on premium positioning and franchise/scoop shop model, though with a very different brand voice.

Emerging players

• MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery: Smaller U.S. premium ice cream franchise chain also using the on-the-stone mix-in concept. Closely mirrors Cold Stone's value proposition at smaller scale, making it a relevant niche competitor.
• Salt & Straw: Fast-growing premium craft ice cream scoop shop brand with strong culinary positioning and limited-time flavor storytelling. Comparable on premium dessert occasion; competitive threat from the craft/indie side of the category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ColdStone
• Facebookfacebook.com/coldstonecreamery
• Instagraminstagram.com/coldstone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cold-stone-creamery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cold Stone Creamery