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About Kona Ice

The Shaved Ice Franchise Company Built on Fun, Flavor, and Community

Kona Ice isn’t just another shaved ice company, it’s a mobile experience designed to bring people together. Founded in 2007, Kona Ice was created with a simple idea: make the classic ice cream truck experience cleaner, friendlier, and more community-focused.

It all began when our founder, Tony Lamb, watched his youngest daughter, Ava, hesitate to approach a run-down ice cream truck and asked: “What if this experience could be better?”

From that spark, Kona Ice was born, founded on:

Clean, eye-catching trucks

Friendly, professional servers

Delicious, customizable shaved ice

A commitment to making a difference in every community served

Today, Kona Ice franchisees bring these same values to a wide variety of events nationwide, including schools, corporate gatherings, fundraisers, festivals, weddings, sports events, and community celebrations, creating memorable, family-friendly experiences wherever they go.

From One Truck to a Nationwide Brand

Since launching the first Kona Ice truck in 2007, the brand has grown rapidly thanks to innovation, strong franchisee support, and a customer-first mindset. Today, Kona Ice includes:

Kona Ice has also consistently been recognized by Franchise Business Review, earning #1 in “Franchise Satisfaction” year after year, along with awards for “Top Franchises for Women” and “Top Franchises for Culture.”

What began as a single shaved ice truck has become the largest shaved ice franchise company in the world—and we’re just getting started. Each year, Kona Ice continues to evolve with new flavors, healthier options, technology improvements, and new mobile opportunities for franchise owners.

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Our Brand: The Kona Ice Experience

The Kona Ice brand is one of our greatest strengths—and it’s built to be instantly recognizable, memorable, and fun. Wherever a Kona Ice truck arrives, it brings more than shaved ice—it brings an experience.

That experience is built on four key elements:

The Truck

The Kona Ice truck—also known as the Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV)—is the most visible part of our brand and often the first impression. Bright, colorful, and full of personality, it draws attention and creates excitement wherever it goes.

The Product

The Kona Ice menu goes far beyond traditional shaved ice and snow cones. With more than 70 exclusive Kreations® flavors, plus Fruit First, Vita-Blend, sugar-free, and smoothie-style options, there’s something for everyone. Each cup is made fresh to order and customizable using the signature Flavorwave® self-serve system, making the Kona Ice experience truly unique.

Kona the Penguin

Kona the Penguin is the heart of our brand. You’ll find him on our trucks, across social media, and even appearing as our official mascot at events. He represents everything Kona Ice stands for—fun, positivity, and community connection.

The Kona Experience

Together, these elements create the full Kona Ice experience—but it goes even further. From tropical music and colorful visuals to the delicious shaved ice and friendly customer service, every detail is designed to create a moment customers remember.

That consistent experience is what makes the Kona Ice brand so powerful. Customers don’t just recognize Kona Ice, they remember how it made them feel.

GIVING BACK IS BUILT INTO OUR BUSINESS

Giving back isn’t an afterthought at Kona Ice—it’s woven into our business model.

Since the beginning, our franchisees have partnered with schools, youth sports teams, nonprofits, and local organizations through our Giveback program to raise funds and support their communities. With low overhead and a mobile model, franchise owners can make a meaningful impact while growing their business.

To date, Kona Ice franchisees have given back over $250 million to communities across the country.

Join the Kona Ice Family

If you’re looking for a shaved ice or snow cone franchise company built on innovation, community, and a proven business model, Kona Ice offers a unique opportunity to own a business that makes a difference. 

With industry-leading support, a powerful brand, and a mobile business model, Kona Ice makes it easier than ever to build something meaningful.

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Frequently Asked Questions

About Kona Ice

Kona Ice is a mobile shaved ice franchise that brings a fun, interactive experience directly to communities through colorful, custom-built trucks. Founded in 2007, Kona Ice serves schools, sports events, festivals, private parties, and more across the United States and beyond. 

Known for its signature Flavorwave® self-serve system and proprietary menu with over 70 Kreations® flavors, Kona Ice combines delicious treats with a flexible, community-focused business model. Learn more about the Kona Ice story.

Kona Ice was founded and is owned by Tony Lamb. With a background in sales and a talent for business growth, Tony has grown Kona Ice from a single truck into a nationwide franchise. 

His leadership and the company’s unique model have been featured on national media—including the How I Built This podcast with Guy Raz and the From A to Franchisee podcast by Franchise Business Review—and in business press like Entrepreneur, Inc.com, Franchise Times, Forbes, and Franchising.com. 

In 2025, Tony was also honored as an Entrepreneur Of The Year East Central Award winner by EY, reflecting his visionary leadership and impact on the franchise industry.

Kona Ice is a rapidly growing, nationwide brand with 2,500+ units operated by 700+ franchisees across 50 states. 

Our mobile business model allows franchisees to serve a wide variety of communities—from small towns to major metro areas—bringing the Kona Ice experience directly to customers wherever they are.

Since being named Entrepreneur’s #1 New Franchise in 2012, Kona Ice has continued to rank among the top franchises in the Franchise 500® list each year.

“Kona Ice has won our annual Franchisee Satisfaction Award every year since 2014… placing Kona in our Hall of Fame for having some of the highest owner satisfaction in franchising.” – Franchise Business Review

Kona Ice is also consistently ranked among Franchise Business Review’s best franchises to own, earning top honors year after year for culture, satisfaction, innovation, and as a standout franchise for women and veterans.

Our most recent Franchise Business Review awards include:

  • Satisfaction Awards: Top Franchises for Women 2026
  • Satisfaction Awards: Top Franchises 2026
  • Franchisee Excellence Awards 2026

Shaved ice is a highly profitable, low-overhead business with broad appeal for all ages. At Kona Ice, franchisees benefit from:

  • Proprietary Flavors: Over 70 exclusive Kreations® flavors, plus seasonal and specialty options, giving customers a product they can’t get anywhere else.
  • Made-to-Order Quality: Each cup is freshly crafted, featuring the patented Flavorwave® self-serve system for a fun, interactive experience.
  • Low Food Costs & Efficient Operations: Shelf-stable ingredients, minimal waste, and streamlined inventory keep overhead around 6%, far below the industry average.
  • Health-Conscious Options: Smart Snack® compliant blends, lower-calorie Vita-Blend options, and sugar-free flavors meet demand for healthier choices.
  • Strong Profit Potential: Low food costs, minimal waste, and high customer appeal make shaved ice a product that supports a profitable business.
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