Cold Stone Creamery Marks Presence In 20th Country With Expansion Into Nigeria - Cold Stone Creamery Continues its Aggressive Growth Plan With Launch in Africa

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Cold Stone Creamery® is strengthening its international presence by accomplishing the significant milestone of entering its 20th country with a franchise agreement in Nigeria. This agreement also allows for the continued development of Cold Stone Creamery, America's most innovative ice cream concept, within the African continent. Kahala, Cold Stone Creamery's parent company, has signed a 10 year Master Franchise Agreement with Ivybridge Trading Ltd. to bring the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience® to Nigeria with a goal of opening nine stores in the first five years.

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Ivybridge Trading Ltd. is a group made up of three of the strongest companies in Nigeria. Their businesses include retail and residential real estate, industrial production, construction, healthcare, hotels, catering, oil and retail.

"Cold Stone Creamery's ice cream is a custom-made work-of-art that reflects one's personality with its endless choices and combinations made of super-premium ingredients that are always fresh and tasty," said Marwan Dalloul, President of Ivybridge Trading Ltd. "At Ivybridge Trading Ltd., we only partner with the best, finest and most unique brands. We are delighted to start providing Nigeria with the 'Ultimate Experience' within the ice cream industry."

Cold Stone Creamery will be the first national ice cream chain and the first ice cream concept to provide the unique customizable serving experience in Nigeria. This, combined with Ivybridge's operational know-how, ability to secure premiere locations, drive traffic to their stores, as well as their successful reputation for quality and innovation, makes for a likelihood of a very successful partnership.

"Since Nigeria is the trendsetter within Western Africa, finding a partner in this country was an undeniable next step to continue our growth within the continent," said Dan Beem, Cold Stone Creamery's President of International. "Ivybridge is an extremely well known company in Nigeria and the breadth of knowledge and experience they have in the market is second to none, which makes them the best and most perfect partner for Cold Stone Creamery in Nigeria."

Cold Stone Creamery's explosive international growth began in November 2005 when the company opened its first international store in Tokyo, Japan. Today, Cold Stone Creamery stores are operating in more than 380 international locations and in 20 different countries including China, South Korea, Canada, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates.

About Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery delivers the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience® through a community of franchisees who are passionate about ice cream. The secret recipe for smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh daily in each store, and then customized by combining a variety of Mix-ins on a frozen granite stone. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Cold Stone Creamery is a subsidiary of Kahala, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world, with a portfolio of 15 quick-service restaurant brands. Cold Stone Creamery operates more than 1,500 locations in 20 countries.

For more information about Cold Stone Creamery, visit www.coldstonecreamery.com.

For more information about Kahala, visit www.kahalamgmt.com.

CONTACT: Arian Ploszaj, Cold Stone Creamery, +1-480-362-4952, [email protected]