Franchising

The Milkshake Factory launches franchising initiative

Provided

February 28, 2023

The Milkshake Factory, a family-owned dessert chain based in western Pennsylvania, has partnered with Franworth to help share its business model with qualified franchise investors.

"We've landed at this inflection point after a full year of focused attention for the launch of franchising, and for the future of our organization," Dana Edwards Manatos, co-founder and CEO, The Milkshake Factory, said in a company press release. "From one location in 2003 to 11 locations today, we're now ready with a replicable business model, proven unit economics, and a cost-effective store design that embraces the magic of our brand."

The Edwards family's roots run more than a century deep in gourmet chocolates and premium desserts. They established large-scale manufacturing and developed a line of chocolate products sold in retailers across the country including Costco Wholesale, Target and many grocery chains. The transformation of the family's chocolate business paved the way for the expansion of the Milkshake Factory, and through retail distribution it has earned brand awareness beyond The Steel City, according to Co-Founder Chris Edwards.

"Continuing our family legacy with The Milkshake Factory is a top priority. We have designed a business model created with the same amount of operational excellence and product quality that has been consistent throughout our past," he said in the release.

Leading this next phase of growth for The Milkshake Factory is the company's President Dan Reese, who will work with the Franworth team to create the franchise growth strategy. He previously served as The Milkshake Factory's CFO and held various executive-level positions with the Edwards family's consumer packaged goods chocolate company, Edward Marc Brands. Prior to that, he was a marketing executive at Kraft Heinz, running its $2 billion condiments portfolio.

"In all my years in franchising, I haven't seen an emerging franchisor enter growth mode with as much infrastructure and history behind it as the Milkshake Factory," John Rotche, founder and CEO of Franworth, said in the release.