Florence-based Kona Ice will host its seventh annual “Kona Konvention” at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center from Thursday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 31. More than 700 franchisees and suppliers will be traveling from all over North America to attend the event.
“There’s nothing like bringing the Kona Ice family together,” said Tony Lamb, president and owner of Florence-based Kona Ice. ” We have an incredible group of talented franchisees. When we can spend this much time together there is no better way to share innovative ideas for the future. We have a clear path for the entire Kona Ice system to continue its remarkable growth and remain one the nation’s fastest growing franchises.”
Lamb at the 2015 Kona Konvention (provided photos)
Lamb, who lives in Walton, founded Kona Ice after an unfavorable encounter with an ice cream truck vendor in his Boone County neighborhood.
That experience, combined with Lamb’s knowledge of mobile advertising (at one time owning a fleet of mobile billboard trucks) started his ‘what-¬‐if’ thought process that resulted in the Kona Entertainment Vehicle and the Kona Ice Franchise.
The annual franchise convention comes on the heels of another major announcement.
The brand was recently named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2015 Franchise 500® list, considered the “best and most comprehensive franchise ranking” in the industry. Kona Ice was rated number one in the “Frozen Desserts” category and 77th overall. The prestigious award validates the progress the company has made in 2015 including adding more than 100 new units, bringing the total to 650 plus trucks on the road in 48 states.
Kona Ice offers communities throughout North America cool, sweet treats while providing local organizations, like schools, churches, youth sports leagues and many more a unique fundraising opportunity. Kona Ice franchisees establish strong partnerships with the community to help organizations fundraisers for after school activities, uniforms, textbooks, field trips and more.
Kona Ice has given more than $28 million dollars back to neighborhood schools, organizations and teams since its inception in 2007. The brand’s iconic truck offers customers a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring the opportunity to create their own Kona Ice on the self-serve Flavorwave™, while enjoying the soothing sights and sounds from the tropics.
Entrepreneurially spirited individuals interested in owning a Kona Ice franchise should have the ability to invest between $114,125 and $129,425, which includes working capital and a typical franchise fee of $15,000. Kona Ice also offers its owners financing programs for the purchase of trucks and the minis. Ideal franchise candidates are outgoing individuals, husbands and wives, fathers and sons, and other two-person teams who love the idea of serving the community.
To learn more about Kona Ice or to book Kona Ice for a fundraiser or event, click here .
For more information about available franchise opportunities, click here , or call (800) KONAICE.
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