Snowflake Gelato

About Snowflake Gelato

London-based luxury gelato brand founded in 2012 by Asad Khan. In December 2021, Snowflake opened its first international location, in Doha, Qatar, which was followed by a second, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2022.

In February 2023, Snowflake Gelato launched a £500,000 crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube to support its expansion plans, which closed on £750,000. The company said: “The global artisan ice cream market is $6.6bn with a forecast compound annual growth rate to be 6.9% by 2025. Premium ice cream is growing at a faster rate than value and at Snowflake, we are working to scoop up our share of this space.

“Our system-wide sales in 2022 grew by 92% in 2021 to £4m (October 2021 to October 2022). As we grow beyond London, to the north of the UK and continue our international expansion, we are excited to be on Crowdcube for the first time, raising funds to support our vision. Our investors will help us continue our expansion, invest in marketing and upgrade our in-store experience. We are also seeking to launch a dedicated innovation hub.”

In June 2022, head of brand and partnerships Tim Field told Propel Snowflake is building towards UK target of 50 locations and sees the potential for a larger overseas roll-out. Founder Asad Khan built on this in September 2023 by saying Snowflake is aiming to grow to 160 sites in the next five years, with the business preparing to scale globally at pace.

In September 2024, Snowflake signed a partnership agreement with Skyview Brands Group, a franchisee for Sides, the food business from YouTube collective Sidemen, to roll out up to 20 new locations over the next three years. Following its launch at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, Snowflake said the new partnership with Skyview, which is led by Faisal Butt, had identified key locations for the next phase of its expansion.

Khan said: “This is a landmark moment for Snowflake within our journey. Opening three locations within the Trafford Centre was just the start of our UK expansion. Thanks to Faisal and his team at Skyview Brands Group, who bring a lot of expertise within the retail space, we can achieve our dream of serving happiness up and down the UK.”

In November 2024, Snowflake added to its regional presence with an opening in Oxford, and the following month, added its third international site and first in partnership with SSP - at Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia. Khan said: “Opening a location at an airport comes with unique challenges, but everyone involved rose to the occasion with incredible focus and determination. But the journey doesn’t stop here! We have ambitious plans for more UK and international openings in 2025.”

In November 2025, Snowflake opened its first site in Scotland, at the Braehead shopping centre in Glasgow, and in August 2026, it opened site number 20, in Reading.

Why franchise with Snowflake Gelato

• ✓Snowflake Luxury Gelato is seeking regional area developers (UK), multi-unit operators and master franchisees (international). They must be experienced multi-site franchisees with the ability to scale, with an appreciation of the value of a proven business system. They must have a minimum of two years’ experience within the restaurant/operator industry and must live in the market they are looking to develop in.
• ✓They must have a strong regional and local market knowledge as well as a net worth and liquidity to fund a multi-unit launch. The Snowflake management development program is designed to teach the fundamentals of operating a Snowflake store and to ensure managers are equipped with the skills needed to meet and exceed the standards customers have come to expect.
• ✓The training programme begins with an induction day to immerse new starters in the company's history and culture, journey, values and purpose. It is then a working tour of the entire business, with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in all aspects, from production and finance all the way through to front line customer service.
• ✓Training manuals and video tutorials are shared with all team members on an ongoing basis, and these materials are supported by a programme of appraisals, audits, customer feedback reviews. Locations include shopping malls, leisure destinations and high streets with a 200 to 1,000 square feet footprint. Investment is between £134,800 and £313,850 (various formats).
• ✓The company said: “We’re now looking for experienced and dedicated franchise partners with a passion for great products and outstanding customer service. In exchange, we’re able to provide ongoing support with bespoke onboarding strategies, dedicated teams and proven technology systems. Supported by a central product unit, franchisees will not need to have a high skill set at store level as the product comes in finished or semi-finished from Snowflake’s central gelato making facility. Combined with excellent margins, this translates in robust store profitability and happy customers.”