Franchisee Rockwell Allen and his business partner have inked a two-unit deal with upscale frozen yogurt franchise 16 Handles. The company is planning its first expansion into California, with spots heading to Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and San Diego. Allen and his team will be bringing the brand to the Los Angeles area, targeting the San Fernando Valley for initial locations.
Allen told What Now Los Angeles that he and his business partner were looking into different franchise opportunities and were drawn to the quality and growth of the New York-based franchise.
“The taste alone could have sold us, but what really sealed the deal is the brand itself,” Allen said. “It’s a really forward-thinking company with leadership we feel is in touch with what customers want. We love something where we can provide joy and happiness to people.”
The brand serves 16 rotating soft-serve flavors with more than 50 toppings and sauces alongside other dessert offerings such as cakes, take-home pints and DŌ gourmet edible cookie dough. 16 Handles launches a new flavor on the 16th of every month, producing unique flavors such as French Fry, Salted Butter, Strawberry Kefir and Butter Beer to complement classics such as Classic Vanilla, Cookies and Cream and Original Tart.
Allen and his team are currently scouting locations in Northridge with plans to open a shop “as soon as possible,” though it is too early to pin down a definitive timeline. Eventually, they hope to expand to additional locations in the area.
16 Handles, which launched in 2008, now has more than 40 locations across the nation.
“With this brand, the growth speaks for itself,” Allen said. “It’s community-driven and built to last.”
