The Tokyo, Japan-based Marubeni Corporation announced on Monday, June 30, 2025, that it has acquired 100% of an American ice cream manufacturer. Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts Inc., based in Arizona, is now a wholly owned Marubeni Group subsidiary.
Highlights
- Marubeni is entering the U.S. ice cream market through its acquisition of Bubbies.
- The company said that the acquisition is part of its goal to expand in the U.S. food market.
- Bubbies, being a healthy, natural, and trend-savvy ice cream brand, aligns with changing consumer habits, Marubeni said.
Marubeni Enters Into Ice Cream Manufacturing in the U.S.
Marubeni is expanding its food business in the United States, as the acquisition of Bubbies marks its entry into ice cream manufacturing. The company’s decision to acquire the ice cream brand is part of its Mid-Term Management Strategy, which focuses on Strategic Platform-type Businesses, considering growth domains, high added value, and scalability as factors.
Bubbies, a 40-Year-Old Brand, Finds a New Owner
Founded in 1985 as an ice cream store in Hawaii, Bubbies began producing ice cream commercially in 2018 on the U.S. mainland. Bubbies reaches its customers through the shelves of major supermarket chains across the U.S. and is expanding its sales. One of its flagship products is ice cream wrapped in mochi (rice cake) dough.
The ice cream brand places itself in the natural and healthy category, which makes it popular among health-conscious consumers. Bubbies is also “trend-savvy” as it offers a wide range of ice cream flavors that are colorful and made with natural ingredients. The brand’s characteristics resonate with growing health-consciousness and changing consumer preferences, Marubeni said in the release.
Marubeni’s Plan for Bubbies
Demand for novelty ice cream, such as Bubbies’, is growing faster than the broader U.S. food market. Marubeni will use its experience with food production and distribution in Japan and Southeast Asia to help Bubbies grow.
Through the acquisition, Marubeni plans to introduce more unique, high‑quality food products to the U.S. market. Marubeni’s press release also said it will be contributing to global food culture and promoting better eating habits.
Marubeni plans to expand in the U.S. food market, which is one of the largest in the world, and ride the steady wave of expected growth. The acquisition supports the company’s broader goal of expanding its food business in the U.S. and increasing the overall value of its group of companies.
