Kona Ice facts for kids
 |
|
| Private | |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Tony Lamb |
| Headquarters | Florence, Kentucky, US |
|
Key people
|
Tony Lamb (CEO) |
Kona Ice is a company that sells yummy shaved ice from special trucks! It's a private company, which means it's not owned by lots of different people through stocks. Tony Lamb started Kona Ice in 2007, and he's still the boss, or CEO. Kona Ice quickly became one of the fastest-growing businesses in the United States. Their fun mascot is a cartoon penguin named Kona!
Contents
The Story of Kona Ice
How Kona Ice Started
Tony Lamb created Kona Ice in 2007. He wanted to make a better kind of ice cream truck. By the end of that year, he had designed five special trucks. Kona Ice started letting other people open their own Kona Ice businesses, called franchises, in 2008.
Growing Bigger and Better
In October 2012, Kona Ice launched the Kona Mini. This is a smaller version of their truck. It lets them sell shaved ice indoors, even when it's cold outside! In 2013, Entrepreneur magazine put Kona Ice on its Franchise 500 list. This list shows the top franchises. Kona Ice was also named the best new franchise. It was the 27th fastest-growing franchise in the United States.
In 2014, Kona Ice worked with Northern Kentucky University. They created a program for students to learn about business. In April 2015, Kona Ice teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This foundation helps make wishes come true for children with serious illnesses. Since it started, Kona Ice has given over $25 million to groups that help communities. In May 2014, TheStreet.com said Kona Ice was one of the top eight franchises in the United States.
How Kona Ice Works
Where Kona Ice is Located
Kona Ice has its main office in Florence, Kentucky. As of March 2015, there were more than 1,000 Kona Ice locations. You could find them in 43 states across the United States. They also had locations in Canada.
Making Your Own Shaved Ice
Customers can make their shaved ice just how they like it. They use something called the Flavorwave. This is a special machine built into the side of the truck. It lets you add your favorite flavors! Kona Ice shaved ice has less sugar than regular snow cones. Some locations even offer shaved ice made with 100 percent fruit juice.
