American ice-cream chain to double its number of UK stores
BASKIN-ROBBINS, the world’s largest chain of ice cream parlours, said it plans to double its stores in the UK, hiring 400 new staff.
The 65-year old American company is best-known for its wacky flavours such as “bombshell blondie” maple and sponge cake ice-cream and “Lunar Cheesecake” in celebration of the 1960s Nasa space missions.
In a statement yesterday, the group said it will launch 80 restaurants over the next three years, with the first three opening today in London, Middlesex and Hertfordshire.
It already has around 100 franchises in the UK, including restaurants and concessions in other shops and cinemas.
The new stores will be kitted out with larger topping stations and high-tech interactive menus on lcd screens, with walls “reminiscent of waffle cones” the group said.
Baskin-Robbins was founded by Irvine Robbins and his brother-in-law, Burton Baskin in 1940s, who concocted flavours such as Jamoca almond fudge and others named after events happening in American culture at the time such as Cocoa a Go-Go, when go-go dancers were popular. It is now part of Dunkin’ Brands and owned by a consortium of buy-out groups Bain Capital, Thomas Lee Partners and the Carlyle Group. The ice-cream maker now has more than 6,700 franchises in almost 50 countries around the world.
“Baskin-Robbins takes pride in delighting guests the world over with its rich library of ice cream flavours and wide array of frozen treats,” said Nigel Travis, chief executive officer of Dunkin’ Brands.
“Baskin-Robbins further growth in the UK provides an excellent opportunity for those looking to develop a franchise business. It also means hundreds of new jobs, which we are particularly pleased to be supporting”, he added.