Kona Ice facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Tony Lamb |
| Headquarters | Florence, Kentucky, US |
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Key people
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Tony Lamb (CEO) |
Kona Ice is a company that sells delicious shaved ice from special mobile trucks. It was started by Tony Lamb in 2007. He is still the main boss, or CEO, of Kona Ice. The company became one of the fastest-growing businesses in the United States. Kona, an animated penguin, is the fun mascot for Kona Ice!
How Kona Ice Began
In 2007, Tony Lamb had a great idea. He wanted to create a better kind of ice cream truck. By the end of that year, he had already made five test versions of his new truck. Kona Ice started letting other people open their own Kona Ice businesses (called franchising) in 2008.
In 2012, Kona Ice introduced the "Kona Mini." This is a smaller version of their truck. It lets them sell shaved ice indoors, even when it's cold outside! Kona Ice was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine in 2013. They were called a top new business and one of the fastest-growing companies in the country.
Giving Back to Communities
Kona Ice loves to help people! In 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 different groups in local communities. This shows how much they care about helping others.
How Kona Ice Works
The main office for Kona Ice is in Florence, Kentucky. By 2015, there were more than 1,000 Kona Ice trucks in 43 states across the U.S. and even in Canada!
When you get shaved ice from Kona Ice, you can make it just how you like it. The trucks have a special "Flavorwave" dispenser on the side. This lets you add your favorite flavors yourself! Kona Ice shaved ice has much less sugar than regular snow cones. Some locations even offer shaved ice made with 100 percent fruit juice.
