Fosters Freeze Targets Nevada for Franchise Expansion

Fosters Freeze has been a California tradition since the mid-1940's. The Fosters story begins in 1946 when George Foster opened the first Fosters Freeze in Inglewood, California, where he introduced the soft serve cone and a line of soft serve desserts. The unique product became so popular that he opened a chain of restaurants. As California grew, so did the Fosters concept, with made-to-order hamburgers, fries and other food items added to the menu. Fosters Freeze truly could be described as California's first fast-food chain.

The ice cream and burger franchise grew to more than 300 locations across the West Coast at its height and has been a fan favorite for generations. Now, Fosters Freeze is looking to expand its footprint further by bringing more of its made-to-order burgers, fries and soft serve ice cream treats to a number of locations throughout Nevada.

“The question we’re constantly hearing is, ‘When are you coming to my state?’” Neal Dahya, president and CEO of Fosters Freeze said. “So we know the demand is everywhere, but we’re being very careful to grow strategically. Right now, we’re looking for qualified candidates across Nevada. There’s no limit to how far we can take this.”

The California-based brand is looking specifically to Nevada in its growth journey because of the state’s close proximity to California. The many residents of Nevada who grew up with Fosters Freeze and its nostalgic ice cream flavors and tasty hamburgers make the state an ideal market — that, and the added ease of logistics and distribution capabilities. The brand’s established supply chain creates quality control and price stability, leaving franchisees with the security and foresight to plan ahead and grow their business.

Plus, with headquarters nearby, the brand’s newest franchisees can look to corporate to be on call for an added layer of support. Whether it be site selection, marketing initiatives, restaurant design, equipment ordering or field-support business advice, the corporate team helps franchisees create a successful business and maximize the return on their investment. Franchisees go through a four-week training with senior management to get them up to speed and kick-start their business with all the knowledge needed to run a Fosters Freeze restaurant, including information on hiring, team training systems and technology.

Neal and his brother Nimesh, who is the vice president of brand growth for Fosters Freeze, purchased the franchise only five years ago, after its previous corporate team did little to encourage growth and guide its franchisees toward success. Since then, the industry-veteran brothers have pledged to make the experience of franchising and the investment opportunity that much better.

“This is a franchise that for many years just wasn’t treated as a franchise,” Neal said. “Every franchisee owned and managed their store pretty much independently, without any support from the corporate team, and the corporate team put virtually no investment into growing the brand. Now, we’re seeing a lot of excitement from franchisees. The general feeling is that we finally have an opportunity to make the most of a brand that has so much potential.”

Franchise owners also benefit from the brand’s 70 years of operating experience, which has resulted in a streamlined operational model. The flagship model is the ideal destination restaurant format that can be replicated in multiple locations. The business model also includes the option of in-line units and walk-up kiosks, allowing franchisees to take advantage of a wide range of real-estate opportunities

When it comes to the specific areas of Nevada that Fosters Freeze is looking to grow in, the Dahya brothers aren’t looking to limit themselves to only big cities like Las Vegas. The fan-favorite brand is also targeting Henderson and Reno for growth, with the ability to open four to eight locations in Las Vegas, one to two locations in Reno and two locations in Henderson.

As Fosters Freeze continues to adapt to the needs of its customers, better support its franchisees and achieve success in its growth efforts amid COVID-19, the brand’s flexible, small-footprint store model features walk-up windows that make socially distant takeout meals easy to serve.

Fosters Freeze currently has 66 restaurants open across the West Coast, with specific plans to grow through Arizona and Nevada. With the Dahyas’ leadership, continued positive brand awareness and franchisee satisfaction, there is little doubt that Fosters Freeze will continue to appeal to prospects throughout the entire United States.

The initial investment to begin operation of a single, stand-alone Fosters Freeze restaurant ranges from $611,500 and $1,009,000. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a single confections restaurant is $178,000 to $331,500. The initial investment needed to open a single co-located restaurant is $329,500 to $658,500. For more information on franchising with Fosters Freeze, please visit https://www.fostersfreeze.com/franchise/.