Bruster's Real Ice Cream Looking to Expand to Redondo Beach, West Coast

REDONDO BEACH, CA -- Bruster's Real Ice Cream is looking to expand to Redondo Beach as the company embarks on an ambitious plan to add to locations in the West and Southwest, the company announced Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania-based chain has just launched a multi-month campaign in Texas, Arizona and California using digital and social media marketing, including Facebook and LinkedIn, to attract potential franchisees.

The initiative comes as Bruster’s franchisees reported a 7.2 percent increase in 2016 same-store sales, with 92 achieving all-time sales highs, the company said. The brand has recorded 15 quarters of continuous sales growth, the company said. Bruster's opened 12 new shops in 2016.

“The markets we are targeting are growing and have high population densities, as well as high household incomes, making them perfect for our concept,” CEO Jim Sahene said. “Unlike in the North and Midwest, people in the West and Southwest go out for ice cream all year long.”

As part of its Southern California expansion, Bruster’s recently signed development deals with franchisees to open shops in Redondo Beach, Garden Grove and two more Los Angeles-area locations to be determined, with work underway on the Garden Grove unit. It also signed an agreement for a store in Stockton, California.

Bruster’s ice cream is made the old-fashioned way from ingredients that are slow kettle processed and designed specifically to create the Bruster's flavor, according to the company. Its proprietary home-style mix is delivered fresh from its dairy to each store, the company said.

There are nearly 200 independently owned Bruster's Real Ice Cream stores in 20 states, Guyana and South Korea.

-- Photo courtesy of Bruster's