1851

In 2007,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kona-ice.com/shaved-ice-franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=revolutionizing-the-ice-cream-truck-business-tony-lambs-journey-as-kona-ice-ceo-2726078" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kona Ice</a> CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-lamb-81a158202/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=revolutionizing-the-ice-cream-truck-business-tony-lambs-journey-as-kona-ice-ceo-2726078" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tony Lamb</a> launched the mobile shaved ice franchise that delivers colorful, fruity frozen treats from modern, elevated ice cream trucks. Since then, the brand has grown to over 1,700 Kona Entertainment Vehicles (KEV) across 49 states and Canada.&nbsp;Lamb has always been an entrepreneur; he followed in his father’s footsteps selling vacuum cleaners while still in college, and within a few years of his graduation he had six offices and a sales staff of 300. But Lamb has never been one to settle and has continued chasing success through entrepreneurship. Even when his friends doubted his idea for a new take on the classic ice cream truck, he persevered and proved them wrong.“Being an entrepreneur isn't all glorious; an entrepreneur can never get out of his own way. He's entrepreneurial all the way into the grave. He's just always got this mindset of ‘I can do it better.’ There are a lot of hard workers, there are a lot of smart people,” Lamb said. “I had some good ideas that didn't work before; this one worked — I was able to pour some gasoline on it and it worked at a crazy level. There are 150 people here at Kona Ice Corporate now. I started off with one truck, driving around with my friends laughing at me, and now I have 150 people, an $8 million payroll, and I'm trying to figure it out.”Lamb stumbled into franchising unexpectedly after an ice cream truck visited his neighborhood back in 2004. Lamb took one look at the dilapidated, creepy truck and was in shock. As he looked at his children holding their freezer-burned treats and watched the truck driving away, he started laughing.“I’m looking at my wife and saying, ‘What has happened to that industry? What a mess,’” Lamb said.Driven by a vision to revolutionize the ice cream truck business, Lamb launched Kona Ice in 2007, initially with the hopes of becoming a regionally recognized business. The brand simply kept growing; Lamb soon realized that he could dream bigger and that franchising was an excellent option.&nbsp;Kona Ice is now the leading shaved ice brand with over 1,700 franchise units and 800 franchisees nationwide. The brand brings a modern ice-cream-truck-meets-beach experience to every location it visits. The trucks are vibrant with colorful branding, and they play lively music, elevating the traditional ice cream truck experience. Kona Ice’s innovative Flavorwave® system offers guests a customizable treat using high-quality, fruit-based flavorings; consumers are handed an unflavored shaved ice and can customize their own treat.Thanks to its mobile nature and memorable branding, franchisees quickly gain traction at local events, allowing them to focus on business growth. The streamlined operational model empowers owners to prioritize expanding their presence and securing more bookings, while Kona Ice’s innovative Flavorwave® system offers guests a customizable treat using high-quality, fruit-based flavorings.The total initial investment to begin the operation of a Kona Ice franchise is approximately $160,725, which includes a $15,000 franchise fee.Growing and selling franchises is difficult. No great franchise did it alone. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisors grow their franchises with confidence? Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1851growthclub.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=revolutionizing-the-ice-cream-truck-business-tony-lambs-journey-as-kona-ice-ceo-2726078" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and see what we can do for you.

Kona Ice CEO Tony Lamb's Journey Into Franchising 

1851 Franchise

Tony Lamb watched in horror as his children ran towards a creepy, run-down ice cream truck. That’s all it took to inspire him to create his own franchise brand, Kona Ice.

Revolutionizing the Ice Cream Truck Business: Tony Lamb's Journey as Kona Ice CEO

revolutionizing-the-ice-cream-truck-business-tony-lambs-journey-as-kona-ice-ceo

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Photo of a large group of people standing in a circle, placing hands together in center

Franchise Opportunities for Minorities: Expanding the Franchise Network

franchise-opportunities-for-minorities

Missy Maio - Gong Cha - Top Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Missy Maio — Vice President of Marketing and Global Partnerships, Gong Cha

franchise-marketing-leader-missy-maio-gong-cha

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Love for Dogs Into a Business with Dog Training Elite

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Lifelong Love for Dogs Into a Growing Business with Dog Training Elite

how-this-franchise-consultant-turned-a-lifelong-love-for-dogs-into-a-growing-business-with-dog-training-elite

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Revolutionizing the Ice Cream Truck Business: Tony Lamb's Journey as Kona Ice CEO

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS