HipPop Dessert Truck Goes Franchise, Looking For Palm Beach County Franchisee

Have you always dreamed of owning and operating your own food truck but didn't know where to start? If that's the case, perhaps owning your own HipPOPs dessert truck might be a dream come true.

Maybe you've seen one rolling through a neighborhood food-truck round-up or sampled one of the truck's pistachio and chocolate-covered treats. Now, you might also be able to own a HipHOPs truck, says HipPOPs founder Anthony Fellows.

The Broward County-based mobile dessert truck specializing in handcrafted gelato, sorbet, and frozen yogurt bars on a stick recently announced that it will be offering franchise models for interested would-be food-truck owners. The move comes after an international partnership Fellows made with the Food Truck Co., based in Dubai.

Today, HipPOPs is an exclusive franchisee of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) company. Over the next five years, the Food Truck Co. plans to launch ten to 20 trucks throughout the UAE, with at least two trucks and a 5,000-square-foot microcreamery in full operation by the end of 2015.

HipPOPs are kosher, all-natural, gluten-free frozen pops made from small, hand-crafted batches of gelato and soft serve at the company’s microcreamery. Based in South Florida, the company boasts three varieties of signature Belgian chocolate dips and a dozen unique “POPings” that combine for a gourmet treat with a fraction of ice cream’s fat content. Founded on the principle of bringing the highest-quality and healthiest ingredients to the streets with a mobile POPtruck, the company blends the tastes and freshness of Italian gelaterias with modern technology to create a unique dessert treat. 

"Since we launched our first truck in 2012, HipPOPs has cultivated an incredibly loyal and enthusiastic fan base here in Florida," says Fellows. "About a year ago, we developed a lucrative opportunity to bring this new business concept overseas. Food trucks are just beginning to launch in Dubai, what is a relatively untapped market, and our partnership with the Food Truck Co. facilitates our international expansion, and we are anticipating great success for HipPOPs in the United Arab Emirates."

The Dubai announcement marks the launch of HipPOPs' aggressive growth strategy here in the United States as well, which includes expansion and development efforts of the franchise model in domestic markets like Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Philadelphia, and Portland. To fuel HipPOPs' growth, the company is seeking single and multi-unit operators with food-service or restaurant-industry experience. 

June 18 through 20, HipPOPs will be debuting HipPOPs at the 2015 International Franchise Exposition show in New York City and is seeking multi-unit operators and area developers, with both domestic and international opportunities available.

Right now, HipPOPs is also looking for the right franchisee for northern Palm Beach County, adds Fellows.

"My goal with this business was to reimagine the traditional frozen dessert model and create a food truck that would give me the freedom to build my brand without the usual restraints of a brick-and-mortar concept," says Fellows. "From there, my dream was to create a franchise model that would allow others to be independent business owners as well."

Franchise candidates should have a minimum net worth of $150,000 and liquid assets of at least $75,000. Franchisees can expect the total cost of investment for one HipPOPs operation to be approximately $245,175 to $351,450. The initial franchise fee is $25,000, but if franchisees elect to purchase multiple franchises at the same time, the fee is reduced. To learn more about franchising opportunities with HipPOPs, visit hippops.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.