Marble Slab Creamery

## Executive Summary

Marble Slab Creamery is a premium ice cream franchise founded in 1983 and franchising since 1984. Now owned by FAT Brands and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, Marble Slab operates 249 franchised locations across the United States. The brand is known for its mix-in concept where ice cream is custom-mixed on a frozen marble slab with customers chosen toppings.

## Investment Overview

| Investment Component | Amount | |---------------------|--------| | Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 - $45,000 | | Traditional/Non-Traditional Store | $293,085 - $376,135 | | Co-Brand with Great American Cookies | $356,085 - $461,135 | | General Investment Range | $333,000 - $514,000 | | Royalty Fee | 6% of gross sales | | Marketing Fee | 2% of gross sales | | Minimum Liquid Capital | $100,000 | | Minimum Net Worth | $250,000 |

### Veteran Discount Marble Slab offers veteran-friendly benefits: - $3,000 off initial franchise fee - $100 monthly invoice credit - Financing assistance

## Training and Support

Marble Slab provides comprehensive training:

- **Total Training:** 71 hours - **Classroom Training:** 35 hours - **On-the-Job Training:** 36 hours

### Support Includes: - Site selection assistance - Build-out and design guidance - Marketing and promotional programs - FAT Brands corporate resources - Third-party financing assistance

## Network Statistics

| Metric | Data | |--------|------| | Total US Locations | 249 | | Franchised Units | 249 | | Company-Owned Units | 0 | | Year Founded | 1983 | | Franchising Since | 1984 | | Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California | | Parent Company | FAT Brands |

## Store Format Options

1. **Traditional Store:** Standard retail location 2. **Non-Traditional Store:** Smaller footprint locations 3. **Satellite Locations:** Additional points within same shopping center 4. **Co-Brand Store:** Combined with Great American Cookies

## Competitive Analysis

### Strengths - **Established Brand:** 40+ years of history since 1983 - **FAT Brands Backing:** Strong parent company with multi-brand portfolio - **Large Network:** 249 locations provides operational benchmarks - **Co-Brand Option:** Great American Cookies combination adds revenue streams - **Veteran Benefits:** Franchise fee discount plus monthly credits - **Mix-In Concept:** Interactive customer experience differentiates from competitors - **Third-Party Financing:** Assistance available unlike many franchisors

### Weaknesses - **No Company-Owned Stores:** All 249 are franchised; no corporate operations to benchmark - **Combined Fees:** 8% total ongoing fees (6% royalty + 2% marketing) - **Mature Category:** Premium ice cream segment is competitive - **Seasonality:** Ice cream sales fluctuate with weather

### Key Competitors - Cold Stone Creamery - Baskin-Robbins - Haagen-Dazs - Bruster Ice Cream - Local premium ice cream shops

## Risk Factors

1. **All-Franchised Network:** No company-owned stores may indicate corporate prioritization of franchise fees 2. **Competition:** Cold Stone Creamery offers similar mix-in concept with larger footprint 3. **Seasonality:** Sales concentration in warmer months 4. **Combined Fees:** 8% ongoing fees impact margins 5. **Location Requirements:** Premium retail locations needed for success 6. **Labor Intensive:** Custom mixing requires trained staff and adds complexity

## Investment Recommendation

**Rating: SOLID OPPORTUNITY**

Marble Slab Creamery presents a solid franchise opportunity for investors seeking an established premium ice cream concept with FAT Brands backing. The veteran discounts and third-party financing assistance make it more accessible than many competitors, while the co-brand option with Great American Cookies offers revenue diversification.

**Ideal Candidate Profile:** - Veterans seeking franchise discounts and monthly credits - Investors wanting FAT Brands multi-brand portfolio exposure - Interest in co-brand option with Great American Cookies - Experience in food service or retail operations - $100K liquid capital and $250K net worth - Located in high-traffic retail areas

**Proceed with Caution If:** - Prefer company-owned store benchmarks for comparison - Located in markets dominated by Cold Stone Creamery - Unable to secure premium retail location - Concerned about 8% combined ongoing fees

**Recommended Next Steps:** 1. Request the current FDD and review Item 19 financial performance data 2. Evaluate co-brand option with Great American Cookies for your market 3. If veteran, confirm discount eligibility and financing assistance 4. Compare to Cold Stone Creamery in your target market 5. Speak with existing franchisees about sales patterns 6. Assess FAT Brands multi-brand portfolio for future expansion options