Two Ottawa ice cream enthusiasts are set to triple the number of Baskin-Robbins franchises they operate in the city.
Ronnie Liu and Lina Qu already operate five franchises in Ottawa and will open 10 more over the next five years, the company said in a news release Tuesday.
“With more than 78 years of experience internationally, 52 in Canada, Baskin-Robbins clearly has a winning recipe when it comes to pleasing its guests,” said Qu in the release. “We’ve seen this firsthand and it’s why we’ve made the choices we’ve made and allowed ourselves to dream of bringing more Baskin-Robbins to more people in the years to come.”
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Baskin-Robbins, a global chain of ice cream specialty shops, has been in Ottawa since 1980 and currently has eight franchise locations in the city, including the five operated by Qu and Liu.
Qu and Liu opened their fifth Baskin-Robbins location this past fall in Barrhaven on Strandherd Drive. The next 10 are expected to be located in “premium locations” in Ottawa, according to the company.
The new locations will range from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet and will feature “bright colours, new dipping cabinets, mixed seating options, and crisp, simplified digital menu boards.”
“Ice cream has a special place in our world,” said Natalie Joseph, spokesperson for Baskin-Robbins Canada. “There’s a great opportunity to expand in the region, and the country – and we’re happy to expand with our existing franchisees.”
Part of Inspire Brands since 2020, Baskin-Robbins expects to open another 50 locations across Canada by 2030, the company said.
Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts who “shared a dream to create an innovative shop that would be a neighbourhood gathering place for families.” Baskin-Robbins operates 115 locations in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.
