The American frozen dessert franchise chain Tasti D-lite is heading for Australia with the first store set to open in Melbourne in the autumn of 2011.
A family business, Friezer Pty Ltd, has signed the master franchise agreement for Australia.
Georgina Crawford, director of operations and marketing at Friezer, was the catalyst for bringing the brand downunder when she discovered the dessert brand in the US and became a regular customer.
Crawford told Franchising Without question the reason tasti D-lite is such a phenomenon is the product. It is truly guilt free, and is one of very few healthier options that can boast such outstanding nutritional values without compromising or sacrificing on flavour.
Australians are the third highest consumers of ice cream on a per capita basis in the world. Australia enjoys a fantastic climate and has a large and robust healthy lifestyle industry. Australia also suffers from some of the highest rates of obesity in the world. We believe that tasti D-lite offers a great tasting, healthy alternative to existing choices currently available in the Australian frozen dessert market.
The dessert brand will suit all types of retail locations, shopping centres and main retail strips, Crawford said.
Initial plans are for 30 units within five years of the pilot store opening on Chapel Street, South Yarra in the second quarter of 2011.
Early next year franchises will become available Australia wide, with capital cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, and regional areas such as southeast Queensland the primary focus of expansion.
Kurt Ullmann, vice president of international development at Tasti D-Lite, told the US restaurant magazine QSR, Australia stood out as a target market for its still prospering economy and its franchising environment.
While we look for great consumer markets for our retail offering, what we’re also looking for is markets where franchising as a way to grow businesses is something that’s been embraced by the country and entrepreneurial segment, he said.