Scottsdale-based franchisor of more than 28 quick-service restaurant brands, including Cold Stone Creamery and Blimpie, supporting about 2,900 locations in 28 countries.
Kahala Brands is a franchisor of quick-service and fast-casual restaurant concepts, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 1981 with Surf City Squeeze, a smoothie and juice bar concept, the company now comprises more than 28 brands, roughly 2,900 locations and a presence in 28 countries. System-wide annual sales across the portfolio are nearly $750 million.
The portfolio spans several food and beverage categories. It includes Cold Stone Creamery and Pinkberry in frozen desserts, sweetFrog in frozen yogurt, Wetzel's Pretzels in pretzels, Blimpie in sub sandwiches, Baja Fresh in Mexican fast-casual and Planet Smoothie in smoothies. Kahala Brands does not itself operate most restaurants; it supports franchisees of its concepts.
That support covers marketing, operations, training, research and development, purchasing, distribution and supply chain. The company describes a focus on high-quality ingredients and on memorable customer experiences, alongside relationships with franchisees, vendors and employees. Employees working at the Scottsdale headquarters or in support functions are engaged with a business spanning restaurant brand management, franchising and food and beverage operations across a multi-brand, multinational system.
