September 24, 2008 // Franchising.com // Atlanta -- Marble Slab Creamery announced the opening of its first franchise location in New Orleans. The new store, located in the heart of the French Quarter, is owned and operated by Earl Anderson and opened its doors for business on July 31. The store and franchise owner are supported by NexCen Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXC) ("NexCen"), parent company to Marble Slab Creamery.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to open the first Marble Slab in New Orleans," said Earl Anderson, owner of the new Creamery. "I am confident that Marble Slab's commitment to quality ingredients and super premium ice cream will resonate well with New Orleanians and the entire French Quarter neighborhood."
The New Orleans store is one of several Marble Slab locations to open this year. Currently the brand has over 390 locations in the Unites States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates and will expand into Mexico at the beginning of next year. Just in time for the last days of summer, the new store will offer customers gourmet frozen treats, and will be a welcome addition to the oldest and most famous neighborhood in New Orleans.
"It has always been our goal to expand Marble Slab Creamery across a wide range of markets," said Chris Dull president of NexCen Franchise Management. The French Quarter is rich in history and cultural significance, and an ideal location to showcase our homemade ice cream and quality ingredients."
About Marble Slab Creamery
Marble Slab Creamery currently owns more than 375 locations worldwide, including the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. It is dedicated to providing its customers with the freshest ingredients available, with product offerings such as hand-rolled freshly baked waffle cones in a variety of flavors, and numerous "mixins," including fresh fruits, fine nuts, sweet candy, and cookies.
NexCen Brands, Inc.
NexCen Brands, Inc. is a vertically integrated global brand management company focused on assembling a diversified portfolio of intellectual property-centric companies operating in the consumer branded products and franchise industries. The Company owns, licenses, franchises and markets a growing portfolio of consumer and franchise brands including The Athlete's Foot®, Bill Blass®, Great American Cookies®, MaggieMoo's®, Marble Slab Creamery®, Pretzel Time®, Pretzelmaker®, Shoebox New York™ and Waverly®. The Company licenses and franchises its brands to a network of leading retailers, manufacturers and franchisees that includes every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in the U.S. and in over 50 countries around the world, and consists of approximately 1,900 franchised stores. NexCen, through its information technology, franchisee support systems and advertising, marketing and public relations team, markets its brands to continually drive greater consumer awareness and brand equity for each of its brands. NexCen touches nearly every aspect of a consumer's lifestyle from the food they eat to the furnishings in their homes and the clothes and footwear they purchase.
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