After Decades of Growth, Marble Slab Creamery Continues to Dominate the Segment it Originated, With Plans to Open 32 New Units in 2021

Marble Slab Creamery®, the leading purveyor of premium, hand-mixed ice cream, blazed a trail within the gourmet ice cream category by developing the now-popular frozen slab technique. Nearly 40 years later, the iconic franchise brand has thrived in a range of economic climates, and it has big plans to make the most of the coming spike in retail foot traffic, including opening 32 new units by the end of 2021.

“The frozen-slab technique put us on the map, and we’ve been expanding ever since, but the growth opportunities we’re seeing right now are unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Chris Cheek, Chief Development Officer of FAT Brands, Quick Service Restaurant Division, the multi-brand franchisor behind Marble Slab Creamery. “The category is booming, but unlike Marble Slab, which has thrived throughout a range of economic climates, our competitors were caught flat-footed by the pandemic and in many cases had to scale back dramatically, creating opportunities for us.”

With interest rates at historic lows, an abundance of prime real estate available in key markets across the country, and access to critical data and resources cross-leveraged between FAT Brands, Quick Service Restaurant Division's family of brands, Marble Slab Creamery is well-positioned to dominate the post-COVID ice cream segment.

Brand history and growth

After creating the ice cream-as-entertainment concept, Marble Slab Creamery has been delighting customers of all ages with its slab mix-in method and made-in-house ice cream. With 145 domestic units across 15 states, the brand offers potential franchisees the opportunity to be a part of a proven franchise model.

A well-recognized franchise brand with a mature business playbook and refined operations, Marble Slab Creamery provides franchisees with plenty of room to grow in territories across the country. Now, as a proven-pandemic-proof business, Marble Slab Creamery is poised to grow rapidly in all regions of the country.

“Marble Slab holds a special place in people’s hearts,” said Jenn Johnston, President and Chief Brand Officer of FAT Brands, Quick Service Restaurant Division. “It’s rare to find a franchise opportunity with a brand that has this much consumer sentiment and is also in a position to make big growth moves.”

Franchise opportunities and adaptability

Marble Slab Creamery franchisees are not tied to a one-size-fits-all real estate footprint and the adaptable concept fits well in a variety of markets, settings and store configurations. While standalone storefronts have found success, the concept also translates to high-traffic settings including movie theaters, boardwalks and amusement parks.

Additionally, the brand recently launched a co-branded shop experience as part of an integration with sibling brand Great American Cookies®, America’s largest seller of fresh, gourmet cookies. A complementary partnership between two beloved dessert brands, the combined concept offers decadent menu offerings, like ice cream sandwiches, that attract a wider customer base while increasing both brands’ economies of scale.

“Co-branding Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery has become the largest growth vehicle for both brands,” said Johnston. “We have seen enormous success with this model and it represents the first time in restaurant history that there is a truly integrated co-brand experience. It’s a natural partnership that resonates with customers in all markets and offers a growth opportunity for the franchisees of both brands.”

Post pandemic expansion plans

While other brands have leaned heavily on takeout and delivery options throughout the pandemic, ice cream presents a necessarily in-person experience. As more Americans begin to slowly resume their normal lives, they are driven to seek out their favorite ice cream products that they weren’t able to enjoy at home.

Now, Marble Slab Creamery is targeting expansion in markets across the country. With a wealth of resources and experience driving its growth strategy, the franchise is well-positioned to continue dominating the ice cream segment.

Marble Slab Creamery, a leading purveyor of chef-created super-premium hand-mixed ice cream and the innovator of the frozen slab technique, was founded in 1983. Every batch of Marble Slab Creamery ice cream is fresh, made in small batches in store using dairy from local farms and flavor ingredients from around the world. Today, Marble Slab Creamery is enjoyed by consumers across the globe with locations in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the United States.