Franklin, Tenn.-based frozen dessert chain Tasti D-Lite has signed a 30-unit development agreement with Luis Velutini to expand into Central America. The plan entails 30 centers within 10 years across seven countries.
The first unit is expected to open in Panama City, Panama before the end of 2011.
Velutini, 36, spent the past 13 years working for Procter & Gamble in various marketing positions. Two other Procter & Gamble alums, Carlos Rojas and Alonso Requena, are partners in this venture and will be lending their entrepreneurial experience to Velutini from their home countries of Colombia and Venezuela, respectively. Rojas is the general manager of the Mail Boxes Etc. Master Franchise in Colombia and Requena owns and operates an industrial services company in Venezuela.
The entrepreneurs were looking for a solid U.S. concept to bring to Central America and were attracted to Tasti D-Lite, which has a 24-year track record and a management team with close to 350 years of combined franchising experience.
"The management team certainly drew me to the brand," said Velutini. "And then when I traveled to Mexico City, home to one of Tasti's newest international locations, I saw firsthand how popular it was and loved the product myself. With a proprietary product, a superior nutritional profile and unmatched product quality, the Tasti D-Lite concept is a perfect fit with the kind of differentiated business opportunity we were looking for."
Tasti D-Lite first launched its franchise program in 2008. Since then, the company has grown to 50 locations and has secured commitments to open more than 300 locations in the coming years. It is currently open in 10 states. Internationally, the company has locations in Mexico and the United Arab Emirates and will be opening its first Australia location in mid-2011.
About a year ago, Tasti D-Lite brought in a team of new executives to help the company pursue its vision of building a 500-center global franchised network.
