Tablez Food signs franchise agreement with Kahala

Food & beverage arm of Lulu International Group, Tablez Food Company, signed a franchise agreement with US-based Kahala Brands to open its super-premium ice cream stores in India and Sri Lanka. Kahala Franchising is the franchisor of Cold Stone Creamery -- the US-based ice cream parlor chain --and the agreement outlines plans for 40 stores in India and five in Sri Lanka by 2019, with the first slated to open at LuLu Mall, Kochi in November.

Shafeena Yusuff Ali-headed Tablez Food Company will invest around Rs 75-85 crore in five years in the Cold Stone Creamery business across India and Sri Lanka.

"As the premium American ice cream concept, Cold Stone Creamery promotes and encourages a fun and friendly experience through personalised Cold Stone Creations. This partnership is in line with the company's vision to introduce constant innovation and enthralling Food & Beverage concepts in the sub-continent," she said.

Tablez Food Company is focused on rolling out home-grown and franchised concepts exponentially in the GCC and the Indian sub-continent in the coming few years.

Shafeena said Tablez Food Company has aggressive expansion plans and has outlined its strategy to be a top tier Food and Beverage operator with sustainable market share in coming few years in the industry.

"Over the next five years, the company will invest around Rs 75-85 crore in the Cold Stone Creamery business across India and Sri Lanka.

"We plan to open the first Cold Stone Creamery at LuLu Mall in Kochi in November this year, followed by a few stores in Bangalore and subsequently other cities in India and Sri Lanka over the coming years," she said.