Type of Food: Ice Cream

Interesting Fact: Baskin-Robbins has created over 1,000 flavors since 1945.

History: Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins were brothers-in-law (Burt married Irv’s sister, Shirley, in 1942). In 1945, Irv Robbins opened Snowbird ice cream shop in Glendale, California. A year later, Burt Baskin opens Burton’s ice cream shop in Pasadena, California. In 1948, Burt and Irv’s stores grow to a chain of six stores and the founders decide to sell their first licensing agreement, pioneering the first franchise business in the ice cream industry. Read more about the history here. Today Baskin-Robbins has over 2,700 store locations in the U.S. and over 2,800 internationally.

Baskin Robbins Website: www.baskinrobbins.com

Official Baskin Robbins Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Baskin Robbins menu: here

Find your local Baskin Robbins: here

Baskin Robbins Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Type of Food: Ice Cream, including a wide selection of ice cream cakes (logs). Some locations offer burgers and fries as well.

Interesting Fact: Texas has the most DQ restaurants with more than 600 locations.

History: The first Dairy Queen outlet was opened by Sherb Noble in Joliet, Illinois on June 22, 1940. DQ was an early pioneer of food franchising, with less than 10 stores in 1941 it quickly expanded to almost 1500 in less than ten years. Already by 1955, there were 2600 stores. Today, the Dairy Queen system is one of the largest fast food systems in the world with more than 5,700 restaurants in the United States, Canada and 22 foreign countries.

Dairy Queen Website: www.dairyqueen.com

Official Dairy Queen Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Dairy Queen menu: here

Find your local Dairy Queen: here

Dairy Queen Specials: Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Name: Cold Stone Creamery

Type of Food: Ice Cream

Interesting Facts: If you leave a tip for a Cold Stone Creamery crew member don’t be surprised if they start singing a song. According  Cold Stone Creamery, they believe in the “Entertainment Factor” as a way to add a fun, festive atmosphere to their stores and to set them apart from the competition.  The “Entertainment Factor” is a job requirement made clear to any employee before the accept a position with Cold Stone Creamery.

History: In 1988, Donald and Susan Sutherland (no relation to the actor) opened the first Cold Stone Creamery in Tempe, Arizona after seeking out (and failing to find) an ice cream that was neither hard-packed nor soft-serve. It was a major success. In 1996, Cold Stone Creamery was awarded “Best of Phoenix” and by 1997 Cold Stone Creamery had served its one millionth ice cream cone.

In 1995, Cold Stone Creamery opened its first franchise store in Tucson, soon followed by a store in Camarillo, California, its first out of state. Almost 1,400 franchises are in operation.

By 2003 Cold Stone Creamery had opened its 500th store and began rapid international expansion.

In May 2007, Cold Stone Creamery merged with Kahala Corp to form the company Kahala-Cold Stone, which collectively owns 13 brands (including Blimpie).  Today Cold Stone Creamery operates more than 1,500 locations in 16 countries and is now the sixth-best-selling brand of ice cream in the U.S.

Cold Stone Creamery Website: www.coldstonecreamery.com

Official Cold Stone Creamery Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Cold Stone Creamery menu: here

Find your local Cold Stone Creamery: here

Cold Stone Creamery Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons