1851

As Kenny and Laura Salorio found themselves drawn to the franchise world with a dream of owning their own business, the couple explored various options but found many franchises out of reach and overly complicated. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kona-ice.com/shaved-ice-franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=imperial-valley-couple-opening-a-kona-ice-franchise-in-imperial-county-california-2726802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kona Ice</a> — the shaved ice truck franchise — stood out immediately with its transparency and reasonable investment requirements. After nearly eight years of waiting for the right moment, Kenny and Laura officially dove in with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-kona-ice-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2723171">Kona Ice</a> in their community of&nbsp;Imperial County, California.Launching their Kona Ice franchise last month, the couple’s vision extends beyond business success — they are passionate about community involvement and plan to expand their operations while supporting local schools and sports organizations. The sense of family unity, with their relatives actively participating in the business, adds an extra layer of fulfillment and community connection. “What I love the most about Kona is the family aspect of it — the kids are involved and are helping, nephews and nieces are helping out, my mom is coming out to the events,” said Laura. “That is a beautiful thing.”1851 Franchise spoke with the Salorios to learn more about their backgrounds, their journey to franchising and their plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Kenny Salorio: We both liked the idea of Kona. I’ve always wanted to open up a franchise, but a lot of them were just out of reach.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Kenny: It was really Kona that drew us into the franchise world. It seemed like they had the model perfected. We were the first Kona Ice in the area that we live in.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Kenny: We were looking at Kona for almost eight years, but we weren’t really ready for it. Eventually, it all fell into place. So this is really a dream come true and a long time coming.&nbsp;Kona Ice seemed to be more reasonable than most other concepts. They were more open with the details and the steps. That is what really attracted us to Kona Ice — the transparency. Other franchisees always rated it really high too, which says a lot.Another thing that attracted us was the quality of the build of the trucks, the graphics, the build-out, the quality, etc.The support has been great — any bump that we’ve had, they’ve been there to help us out. That goes a long way. Not all franchisors are as supportive. They have helped us a lot.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Kenny: Last month we got started. It's been exciting and scary. There have been some ups and downs, but luckily, we have achieved everything we wanted. Everyone who sees the vehicle falls in love with it. As we were driving home from Kentucky, people were already calling because they saw our phone number on the side of the truck! Everyone that has tried it has offered nothing but good reviews.Laura Salorio: We are hoping to buy more trucks and expand to more territories. We also want to give back to the community — we come from a small community where this isn’t common. We really love that we are able to fundraise for schools and organizations.1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Laura: What I loved the most about Kona was the family aspect of it — the kids are involved and are helping. We have three children: Kriss, Kenny, and Kenzie. The family comes together, nephews and nieces are helping out, my mom is coming out to the events. That is a beautiful thing.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Kenny: We’ve had a couple of bumps along the road, but I would say you should definitely dive in. Don’t wait eight years like I did. I wish I had done it a long time ago; our business would be even more advanced now. Go full steam ahead as a franchisee.For more information on franchising with Kona Ice, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownakona.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=imperial-valley-couple-opening-a-kona-ice-franchise-in-imperial-county-california-2726802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ownakona.com</a>.About Kona IceFounded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice launched its first Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV) in Florence, Kentucky, offering a unique combination of cleanliness, friendliness and a one-of-a-kind experience. Today, Kona Ice has grown to more than 1,700 mobile units that serve 49 states across the country. Kona Ice has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 11 consecutive years, earning a spot on the Franchise 500 Hall of Fame, and most recently being named #1 in the “Frozen Desserts” and “Ice Cream” categories. In addition, Kona was named to the Franchise Business Review Top 200 list in the overall “Top 50” and “Enterprise” categories. Other accolades include being named a “Top 100 Most Innovative Franchise” by Franchise Business Review and a “Top Franchise for Veterans.” With a commitment to giving back, Kona Ice has donated over $180 million to communities nationwide. For more on Kona Ice, visit the brand’s online Newsroom and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news. For more information about booking Kona Ice for a fundraiser or event, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kona-ice.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=imperial-valley-couple-opening-a-kona-ice-franchise-in-imperial-county-california-2726802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.kona-ice.com</a>. To learn more about available franchise opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownakona.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=imperial-valley-couple-opening-a-kona-ice-franchise-in-imperial-county-california-2726802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ownakona.com</a> or call (800) KONAICE.

Kona Ice Franchise Success: How a local Imperial Valley Couple Built a Thriving Business

1851 Franchise

The Salorios had always envisioned running a family-run business, and Kona Ice’s approachable and supportive model made it the perfect fit for their plans.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Transparency and a Love of Community Inspired this Couple to Open a Kona Ice Franchise

imperial-valley-couple-opening-a-kona-ice-franchise-in-imperial-county-california

United Water Restoration Group

United Water Restoration Group: Maximizing Revenue with Emergency Services 

United Water Restoration Group: Maximizing Revenue with Emergency Services — Be There When Your Community Needs You

united-water-restoration-group-maximizing-revenue-with-emergency-services-be-there-when-your-community-needs-you

Right at Home

Right at Home 2025 Caregiver of the Year Award

Right at Home Honors Caregivers Worldwide:  Celebrating the 2025 Caregiver of the Year Awards

right-at-home-honors-caregivers-worldwide-celebrating-the-2025-caregiver-of-the-year-awards

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner & President’s Club Member Matt Bloom, Norwich, CT.

Minuteman Press Franchise Review: From Venture Capitalism to Printing

minuteman-press-franchisee-continues-tradition-of-success-in-norwich-ct

Paris Baguette

Photo of array of Paris Baguette pastries

Paris Baguette Redefines Morning Routines With Fresh Breakfast and Premium Coffee Strategy

paris-baguette-breakfast-strategy-growth

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

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 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

Subway Pushes Global Growth Despite U.S. Closures 

subway-pushes-global-growth-despite-us-closures

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

Transparency and a Love of Community Inspired this Couple to Open a Kona Ice Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS