A much-loved high street chain is reportedly making a comeback this year, after closing it’s UK stores almost ten years ago.
Ice cream retailer Häagen-Dazs has around 850 branches around the world, none of which are in the UK.
Although its pre-packaged tubs are available to buy at most major supermarkets, its last counter-service store, which was situated in Leicester Square, shut its doors permanently in 2015.
However, that could all be about to change as according to Franchise World, the luxury business will be relaunching its ice cream shops in the UK, with a focus on Greater London to begin with.
The company recently made an appearance in the capital to offer treats using a pop up store in John Lewis Oxford Street.
Following its success, the retailer is ready to expand with multi-unit franchises, with the hopes of reportedly opening at least 25 stores over the next five years.
The luxury ice cream brand say they are passionate about three things: ‘Continuing to empower its reputation of excellence.
‘Providing its customers with the highest quality ice cream in the world. And providing its franchisees with exceptional support and successful opportunities’.
Häagen-Dazs have been churning out delicious flavours since 1961, becoming a franchise in 1976.
Its founder, Reuben Mattus, had a vision to make the best ice cream in the world using high quality, carefully selected ingredients.
Now, there are branches in 40 different countries, which offer a selection of 24 premium flavours of ice cream, as well as sorbet, sundaes, shakes, smoothies, pastries and cakes.
Fans were outraged when the UK branches closed, with one X (formerly known as Twitter) user writing: ‘How come they all closed? The Leicester Square café was always full to bursting!’
Another quipped: ‘Honestly gutted still, it was my favourite place in London’.
In 2019, the ice cream brand responded to pleas with: ‘At the moment we don’t have any Häagen-Dazs Shop in the UK, sorry!
‘We used to have one within Central London few years ago. We will let our team know about your wish to see an Häagen-Dazs Shop back again in London’.
However, ice cream lovers continued to demand the return of their favourite stores.
One user begged: ‘Please, at least one store in the UK? at least one!’
Others chimed in with: ‘Absolutely scandalous,’ ‘Its now 2021 and you still don’t have a restaurant in the UK!’ and ‘Please bring it back’.
Now, it seems their prayers are being answered as the brand reportedly wants to identify franchise partners who have a ‘passion for the Häagen-Dazs brand’ as well as the relevant operational, management and real estate experience.
They also need to have the ‘organisational, operational and financial capability to build and run multiple stores’ and ‘commitment to developing multiple stores in a defined area’.
Until then, fans of the New York brand can get their hands on products in most major supermarkets and convenience stores.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
