Wanted: Illinois Ice Cream Entrepreneurs; Cold Stone Creamery Offering Sweet Franchise Opportunity

CHICAGO--April 22, 2005--Cold Stone Creamery, the fastest-growing ice cream franchise in the nation, today announced development plans for expanding operations in Illinois. The company currently has 41 stores open across the Prairie State with another 75 projected to open in the next three to five years. Eight locations in Chicago, and locations in Evanston, Glencoe, Rockford, Romeoville, Shorewood and Woodridge have already opened in 2005, and 20 additional Cold Stone Creamerys are slated to open by year’s end.


“We are extremely excited about our continued expansion in Illinois,” said Cold Stone Creamery Area Developer Greg Klazura. “We’ve enjoyed a tremendous reception across the state and we look forward to building new relationships with even more Illinois ice cream lovers.”

The company is hosting an informational seminar on May 4 at the Amerisuites in Schaumburg to educate local investors of the unique entrepreneurial opportunity. Entrepreneurs and investors passionate about ice cream are encouraged to contact Cold Stone Creamery Area Developer Greg Klazura at 847-413-1767, ext. 13. Space is limited and reservations are required to attend.

The company’s proven formula is a key contributor to a bite out of the $20 billion ice cream industry. Boasting $405,000 in annualized average unit volume, the highest of any super-premium ice cream concept, Cold Stone Creamery 2004 systemwide revenues exceeded $283 million, up 86 percent from $152 million in 2003.

Cold Stone Creamery continues to set new growth records and maintain its position as the nation’s fastest-growing super-premium ice cream concept. Ranked No. 12 in Entrepreneur magazine’s “Fastest Growing Franchises in America” (January 2005), and No. 4 in Restaurant Business magazine’s “Top 50 Growth Chains” (July 2004), Cold Stone Creamery’s potential has been realized by a surge of entrepreneurs eager to open their own Cold Stone Creamery franchises. In 2004, Cold Stone Creamery opened 362 new stores and has another 414 slated to open in 2005.

About Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery aims to deliver The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience(R), and this vision is carried through by a community of franchisees passionate about ice cream. The secret recipe for smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh daily in each store, and then customized by combining a variety of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone. With nearly 1,000 stores from coast to coast, Cold Stone Creamery currently operates in 47 states including Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Guam. Cold Stone Creamery is an independently owned franchise system, headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. For more information about Cold Stone Creamery, visit the company’s Web site at www.coldstonecreamery.com.

Contact Information

Kevin Donnellan

Media Contact

Cold Stone Creamery

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