US ice cream chain Marble Slab Creamery awards Australian master franchise to industry newcomer

American ice cream chain Marble Slab Creamery hopes to open 30 stores in Australia over the next decade after signing an agreement with a Guam-based company and Australian franchising newcomer, Miteco Pacific.

The confirmation of a master franchise agreement comes about six months after previous owner NexCen said it would bring the Marble Slab brand, along with three other fast-food offerings, to the Australian market.

Instead, the brand’s new owner, Global Franchise Group, an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, said it has signed a master franchise agreement with Miteco Pacific and will soon be rolling out new stores.

“Miteco Pacific’s strong background in the quick service restaurant and casual dining industries, as well as their significant experience in the Asia/Pacific market, made them an ideal master franchisee and we look forward to working with them to introduce the Marble Slab Creamery brand to a new market,” Global Franchise Group chief executive Chris Dull said.

Miteco Pacific president John M Borlas also said in a statement the operation will help bring the “frozen slab technique” to Australian consumers.

“We believe that Global Franchise Group’s outstanding training, marketing and operational support will complement our existing experience in this market and will allow us to effectively grow the Marble Slab Creamery concept in the country.”

However, information about both Miteco Pacific is limited. The company’s website lists Borlas as a founder, but the company operations are concentrated on telecommunications. There is no mention of any involvement in franchising, fast-food or hospitality.

Miteco and Borlas was contacted for comment, but no reply was received before publication. NexCen, and Global Franchise were also contacted, but no replies were received prior to publication.

Marble Slab was previously owned by NexCen. However, in July the company sold its franchise assets, which included the Marble Slab, Maggie Moos, Great American Cookies, Pretzel Time and Showbox New York brands.

That announcement comes six months after NexCen told SmartCompany it was expecting a strong launch for its brands in Australia, especially for the Shoebox New York franchise.

Now, those brands are owned by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners through GFG, whose $5 billion portfolio includes such fast-food names as Wetzel’s Pretzels and Quizno’s.

With NexCen’s brands now owned by GFG, it is now unknown whether the company still has plans to expand into Australia.