Prime Highlights
- US soft-serve ice cream chain Carvel will launch its first store in India later this August in New Delhi.
- The firm will have 100 stores in India through Unify Foodworks.
Key Facts
- The shop will carry classic soft-serve flavors like vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio, and coffee.
- Carvel’s expansion is backed by GoTo Foods International and Indian franchise partner Unify Foodworks.
Key Background
A Legacy of Sweetness
Carvel was founded by Tom Carvel in 1929 and was the first in its league to bring soft-serve ice cream to America. The brand was renowned for creamy textures and its popular cakes and soon became a part of household names. It started out from a roadside stand and then it also became a franchise model in the 1940s and then branched out to over 320 stores in America and Puerto Rico.
International Expansion with Domestic Vision
Carvel is owned by GoTo Foods, formerly Focus Brands. As the company’s global growth continues, India has emerged as a crucial market. The company has appointed Unify Foodworks as its master franchisee to lead its expansion in India. The association is proof that Carvel is determined to combine American excess with Indian consumerism.
New Delhi Store Experience
The initial New Delhi store will be designed as a warm, cozy place for office working professionals, students, and families. It will feature the company’s perennial favorite soft-serve in classic and more popular Indian-approved tastes of pistachio and hazelnut. Carvel’s signature ice cream cakes—buzzed with their fun shapes and decadent layers—will also be featured.
Vision and Long-Term Goals
Sumer Sethi, CEO of Unify Foodworks, highlighted Carvel’s focus on making celebrations and happiness. The company looks to expand to 100 stores over the next few years, with focus given to key metropolitan cities of the country. GoTo Foods International APAC Senior Vice President Steven Yang believes that the brand would fit into India, as international dessert culture is gaining popularity. Carvel’s launch is a blend of strategy in terms of newness and nostalgia for India’s next-gen foodies.
