News

Baskin-Robbins expanding Kentucky footprint

Franchisees recently opening the brands' first Shelbyville, Kentucky location, and a new location is planned for Louisville.

January 19, 2015

Massachusetts-based Baskin-Robbins announced plans to expand its presence in Louisville, Kentucky with new and existing franchisees.

The brand marked its entry into Shelbyville at the end of the year with plans to open an additional location in Louisville by the end of 2015. Both shops were purchased with the help of Baskin-Robbins' franchise incentive programs.

The brand is also recruiting franchisees to help it further expand its presence in the Louisville and Lexington areas.

Late last year, first-time franchisee and Army veteran Charlie Bertram, and his wife, Karen Bertram, opened their Baskin-Robbins shop located at 1661 Midland Trail in Shelbyville. Charlie, who was an Army Specialist (E4) and served during Desert Storm from 1987 to 1991, was waived the 20-year initial franchise fee of $25,000 through Baskin-Robbins' Veteran's Incentive Program. As part of the program, qualified, honorably discharged U.S. veterans who signed an agreement in 2014 and develop shops according to a specific timeline are also offered a zero percent royalty rate for the first two years and a reduced royalty rate for years three through five.

In addition, Mukesh Naik, an existing franchisee for the brand, will develop a Baskin-Robbins shop in 2015. Naik currently operates a Baskin-Robbins store on LaGrange Road in Louisville, Ky., with additional locations in Evansville, Indiana, and Owensboro, Kentucky. Naik received 50 percent off the initial franchise fee and reduced royalty rates for five years when he signed a multi-unit store development agreement with the brand in 2014.

"We're excited to be growing rapidly with passionate franchisees like Mukesh Naik and the Bertrams across Kentucky, especially in my hometown of Louisville. We have experienced significant growth since debuting a fresh, modern new store design and providing some of the strongest financial incentives the brand has ever offered," said Bill Mitchell, president of Baskin-Robbins, U.S. and Canada, and Baskin-Robbins & Dunkin' Donuts China, Japan and Korea, in a company press release. "Baskin-Robbins continues to lead the way in traditional and innovative ice cream products, and we look forward to expanding our presence further in Kentucky and across the U.S. in the year ahead." 

Baskin-Robbins is actively seeking franchisees in several markets throughout the U.S., including areas in California, Georgia and Kentucky. Specific cities include Louisville, Lexington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Atlanta, Albany and Columbus, among others.

For a limited time, Baskin-Robbins is offering new franchisees 50 percent off a 20-year initial franchise fee of $25,000 and a payment plan whereby the reduced fee can be amortized over 10 years. Qualified candidates who develop shops in a timely manner will also be awarded reduced royalty rates of 0 percent to 4.9 percent over the first five years, a reduction from the standard royalty rate of 5.9 percent, according to the release.