Turns out demand must be strong for Fudgie the Whale and his friends in Connecticut. Carvel has announced plans to open five to 10 stores in the state in the coming months.
The soft-serve ice cream maker recently opened a location in Bristol. The company, which currently has 21 locations throughout Connecticut, is expanding throughout the state due to strong consumer interest, quality real estate locations and high brand awareness, Carvel president Scott Colwell said in a statement.
“Connecticut is home to some of our top-performing ice cream shoppes and we have an extremely loyal following in the state,” said Colwell. “That’s why we chose Connecticut as one of the first markets to debut our new shoppe design. We believe it will generate tremendous energy for our brand and ultimately spark franchise growth throughout the state.”
The new shop design features a more contemporary atmosphere, digital menu boards and other updates that showcase Carvel’s menu items, including new dipping cabinets and a large display area for the brand’s signature ice cream cakes.
According to information supplied by Carvel, the total initial investment for a full-service Carvel shop ranges from $250,000 to $380,000 and varies based on location, square footage and equipment package. Full-service Carvel shops range in size from 800 to 1,200 square feet.
