Puffles

What Puffles does

Puffles is a privately held, South Florida-based fast-casual dessert brand founded in 2017 that serves Hong Kong egg waffles (bubble waffles), premium ice cream, and hand-crafted bubble tea. The core product is a customizable bubble waffle cone, offered either as pre-designed signature creations (e.g., The Classic, Death By Chocolate, Caramel Delight, Dubai Chocolate) or through a build-your-own flow with selectable waffle, ice cream, and topping combinations. Bubble tea is made to order with freshly brewed teas and in-house cooked tapioca pearls, with ingredients sourced from Taiwan. The product is designed to be visually distinctive and social-media friendly, targeting families, students, tourists, and general dessert consumers in Southeast Florida.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model. It runs company-owned retail storefronts in Hollywood Beach and Downtown Miami, plus permanent concession booths (245 and 318) at Hard Rock Stadium serving Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes, concerts, and special events. A catering arm serves corporate events, weddings, birthdays, conferences, and trade shows, with a documented client roster that includes Citadel, Brown & Brown, CP Group, Toyota, and Sodexo, as well as event engagements with Formula 1, Miami Open, and the Florida Panthers. Distribution is also being extended through a franchise program offering traditional store formats (800–1,500 sq ft, $139,000–$296,000 initial capital) and non-traditional formats (kiosks, food courts, airports, stadiums, $111,500–$206,000) with a $39,000 initial franchise fee and an 8-hour classroom plus 80-hour on-the-job training curriculum.

The revenue model combines direct consumer sales (retail and stadium concessions), transaction-based catering revenue, and franchise fees/royalties. Geographic expansion is underway, with new locations announced for Pembroke Pines and Davie (Florida) and a planned New Jersey opening in spring 2026. The corporate team is extremely lean (5 employees), reflecting a small owner-operator structure that is leveraging franchise capital and venue partnerships to scale unit count rather than building a large centralized organization. Puffles has earned regional press features in Forbes, Eater, Yelp, ESPN, and FOX35, which provide earned-media support for brand awareness.

Name

Puffles

Legal name

Puffles

Website

https://pufflesfl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Puffles is a South Florida fast-casual dessert brand founded in 2017 that serves customizable Hong Kong bubble waffles, premium ice cream, and hand-crafted bubble tea through company-owned stores, Hard Rock Stadium concessions, catering, and a franchise program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast-casual dessert restaurant

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Retail Bakeries (311811), Mobile Food Services (722330)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Bubble Waffle, Crepe & Specialty Dessert Kiosks (THAFAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bubble Tea (Boba) Shops (THAFAKAC), Frozen & Refrigerated Snack Foods (Ice Cream Novelties, Snack Bites) (CRADABAL)

Keywords

• Bubble waffles
• Bubble tea shop
• Ice cream parlor
• Fast casual dessert
• Dessert catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Storefront Sales: In-store purchases of Hong Kong egg waffles, ice cream, and bubble tea at physical retail locations. Customers order at the counter and receive made-to-order items.
2. Catering Services: Catering for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, conferences, trade shows, and special occasions. Provides various serving options including full-size waffle cones, half-size waffles, quarter-size cups, hand-scooped ice cream, and bubble tea.
3. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Initial franchise fee of $39,000 plus ongoing franchise operations. Franchisees pay for the right to operate Puffles locations under the brand. Total initial capital ranges from $111,500 to $296,000 depending on store format.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Puffles is a fast-casual dessert and beverage brand that sells Hong Kong egg waffles (bubble waffles) served as customizable ice cream cones, premium hard-scoop and soft-serve ice cream, and hand-crafted bubble tea. The company operates physical retail storefronts in South Florida, provides event catering for corporate and private functions, and licenses its concept through a franchise program.

Product overview

Puffles is a fast-casual dessert and beverage brand offering Hong Kong bubble waffles (egg waffles), premium ice cream, and hand-crafted bubble tea. The product portfolio centers on customizable bubble waffle cones available as pre-designed Signature Creations (The Classic, Death By Chocolate, Caramel Delight, Surprise Me!) or through a Build Your Own offering. The menu also includes ice cream in multiple formats (hard scoop, soft serve, pints, milkshakes), seasonal limited-time offerings, and a full hand-crafted bubble tea menu with various tea bases, milk teas, and slushes. Puffles operates as a franchise-enabled retail concept with locations across South Florida (Hollywood Beach, Downtown Miami, Hard Rock Stadium) and expanding to New Jersey and additional Florida markets. The company also offers catering services for corporate events and special occasions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Creations (The Classic, Death By Chocolate, Caramel Delight, Surprise Me!) Pre-designed Hong Kong egg waffle cones combining waffle, premium ice cream, and toppings. The Classic pairs Original Waffle with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Condensed Milk, Rainbow Sprinkles, and Strawberry Pocky. Death By Chocolate uses Chocolate Waffle with Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Syrup, Crushed Oreos, Mini M&M's, and Chocolate Pocky. Caramel Delight uses Original Waffle with Sea Salt Caramel Truffle Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Caramel Sauce, Crushed Oreos, and Chocolate Pocky. Surprise Me! is a customizable option where staff selects ingredients based on customer preferences.
• Build Your Own Bubble Waffle A customizable bubble waffle offering where customers select their waffle flavor (Original, Chocolate, or seasonal varieties), ice cream flavor, and toppings to create a personalized Hong Kong egg waffle cone experience.
• Bubble Tea Hand-crafted bubble tea made with freshly brewed teas and in-house cooked tapioca pearls, available in multiple varieties including Green/Black Tea, Milk Teas, and specialty fruit teas, with customizable boba toppings.
• Ice Cream (Hard Scoop, Soft Serve, Pints, Milkshakes) High-quality ice cream available in multiple formats: hard scoop flavors (Vanilla Bean, Strawberry, Chocolate, Birthday Cake, Cookie Monster, Mint Chip, Coffee, Dulce De Leche, Sea Salt Caramel Truffle, New York Cheesecake, Italian Raspberry Cheesecake), soft serve (Vanilla, Taro, Matcha, Earl Grey, Brown Sugar Vanilla), hand-packed pints, and milkshakes.
• Dubai Chocolate (Limited-Time Offering) A seasonal limited-time signature bubble waffle creation featuring Original Waffle with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Kataifi, Crushed Pistachios, Nutella, Pistachio Cream, and Strawberries.
• Catering Services Event catering for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, conferences, trade shows, and company holiday parties. Catering menu includes full-size waffle cones, half-size waffles, quarter-size cups, hand-scooped ice cream, and bubble tea in various sizes. Available for groups of various sizes.
• Franchise Program A franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs to open Puffles locations under the brand. The program includes comprehensive training (8 hours classroom plus 80 hours on-the-job), initial investment of $139,000-$296,000 for traditional stores or $111,500-$206,000 for non-traditional locations (kiosks, mall food courts, airports, stadiums), and ongoing operational support.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CitadelminorOthersPast catering partner for corporate events. Served desserts at Citadel corporate functions.
• Brown & BrownminorOthersPast catering partner - insurance industry corporate client. Served desserts at Brown & Brown corporate events.
• CP GroupminorOthersPast catering partner - real estate industry corporate client. Served desserts at CP Group corporate functions.
• ToyotaminorOthersPast catering partner - automotive industry corporate client. Served desserts at Toyota corporate events.
• SodexominorOthersPast catering partner - food services industry. Collaborative catering arrangements for corporate events.
• Miami DolphinscoreOthersOfficial food vendor at Hard Rock Stadium during Miami Dolphins NFL home games. Operates booths 245 and 318 for game day sales.
• Miami HurricanescoreOthersOfficial food vendor at Hard Rock Stadium during University of Miami Hurricanes NCAA football games. Provides game day concessions.
• Hard Rock StadiumcoreOthersPermanent concession presence at Hard Rock Stadium (347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens, FL). Serves NFL games, NCAA games, concerts, and special events at the venue.
• Miami OpenminorOthersPast catering partner for the Miami Open tennis tournament. Provided dessert services during the sporting event.
• Formula 1minorOthersPast catering partner for Formula 1 racing events in Miami. Provided dessert services during the motorsport event.
• Florida PanthersminorOthersPast catering partner for Florida Panthers hockey games and events. Provided dessert services at FLA Live Arena.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kung Fu Tea: Large U.S. bubble tea franchise chain offering made-to-order boba drinks with in-store customization. Comparable to Puffles on bubble tea menu, in-house tapioca preparation, and franchise-led expansion model.
• Creamistry: Made-to-order premium ice cream concept using liquid nitrogen and customizable mix-ins. Comparable to Puffles on the customizable premium ice cream experience and Instagram-driven visual presentation.
• Share Tea: Taiwan-originated bubble tea chain with U.S. franchise footprint. Comparable to Puffles on bubble tea product, customizable drinks, and franchise expansion model.
• Boba Guys: Specialty bubble tea and Asian-inspired dessert chain that combines made-to-order boba with premium ingredients. Closely comparable to Puffles' bubble tea program and customizable Asian dessert positioning, particularly in the U.S. market.
• CoCo Bubble Tea: Global bubble tea chain with U.S. franchise presence. Comparable to Puffles on bubble tea core product, franchise-driven unit growth, and customizable toppings/boba format.
• Wafels & Dinges: Belgian/Liège-style wafel specialty kiosk concept serving made-to-order waffles with toppings. Comparable to Puffles on the specialty waffle kiosk format, made-to-order preparation, and event/catering activations.

Emerging players

• Taiyaki NYC: Specialty Asian dessert concept serving fish-shaped taiyaki cones filled with ice cream and toppings. Comparable to Puffles on the Asian dessert + premium ice cream hybrid model and Instagram-presentation-driven brand.

Broad incumbents

• Insomnia Cookies: Late-night dessert bakery chain with retail storefronts and nationwide delivery. Comparable to Puffles on retail dessert concept, late-day demand, and event/catering partnerships with sports and entertainment venues.
• Salt & Straw Ice Cream: Artisan ice cream scoop shop chain with rotating seasonal and limited-time flavors. Comparable to Puffles on premium, Instagram-driven dessert positioning and limited-time offering engine (e.g., Dubai Chocolate).
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium ice cream brand with scoop shops, retail pints, and national distribution. Comparable to Puffles on premium ice cream positioning and customizable formats, though broader in scope and scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PufflesFL
• Instagraminstagram.com/pufflesfl
• TikToktiktok.com/@pufflesfl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/puffles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Puffles