Franchise Talk

Ham And Ice Cream Companies Looking For Pottstown-Area Franchisee

What do ham and ice cream have in common? Soon, Pottstown.

HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Cafée and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream are promoting a “co-developed” franchise in the Pottstown area. All that’s missing is the right franchisee, according to Jim Squire, director of franchise development for HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Cafée.

“We’re looking to expand out from the Philadelphia market,” Squire said during a recent phone interview. “We’d like to find a franchisee first, and then go into the marketplace (for a location).”

The nearest HoneyBaked Ham solo franchise is in Willow Grove, he said. The new concept, which would combine HoneyBaked Ham and Bruster’s, would make the franchises look separate from the outside, but they would share a preparation area, Squire said.

The two very different businesses would complement each other and would generate year-round revenue, according to Ken Caldwell, vice president of retail and franchise operations for HoneyBaked.

“We looked long and hard to find a partner that would complement our business in terms of seasonality and brand,” Caldwell said. “If you look at their products and match them to ours, the level of quality lines up. Our seasonality is polar opposite with catering opportunities complementing each other nicely.”

Squire agreed that the combination of the two businesses is “very manageable.”

“We are a very strong brand in the fall and winter, around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bruster’s is open from Easter through the spring and summer into fall,” Squire said. “Traditionally, HoneyBaked’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bruster’s is open later.”