Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has launched an Asian expansion strategy with the signing of a master licensing agreement covering Japan.

RMCF Asia, has been formed to develop Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory units throughout Asia and holds the master license for the development of a minimum of a 100 stores in Japan.

“Japanese consumers have exhibited great enthusiasm for our brand and our products, as evidenced by the strong sales generated by a test Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store that our licensing partner opened in the upscale Aeon Lake Town Mall in a suburb of Tokyo in December 2011, and we expect that consumers in other Asian countries will show the same enthusiasm we have seen to date in Japan,” said Rocky Mountain chairman and CEO Franklin Crail.

COO Bryan Merryman said they view the master license agreement in Japan as the blueprint for an aggressive international expansion initiative that can accelerate the growth of retail store network and eventually introduce gourmet chocolates and other confectionery products to consumers on a global scale.

RMCF Asia will also open test stores in Hong Kong and China later this year.

RMCF Asia CEO Masahiro Oyama commented: “As licensee, we have developed an aggressive retail unit opening program and expect to complete the minimum retail unit development schedule for Japan substantially sooner than the agreement requires.”

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is a retailer of gourmet chocolates, self-serve frozen yogurt and other confectionery products. Its network counts now 307 chocolates stores, 51 co-branded stores, and 13 self-serve frozen yogurt stores in the US, Canada, Japan and the UAE.

GB