Aussie gelato chain Gelatissimo has opened its first US store, in Houston, Texas, and more are already in planning. 

Gelatissimo CEO Filipe Barbosa described the US foray as the next chapter in an expansion program – that has already included Singapore and the Philippines – as the company looks to growth opportunities globally.

Keeping up the pace, the brand’s next US outlet will be a store in Hawaii’s Honolulu which is set to open in the coming months.

“We have spent a long time considering Hawaii,” said Barbosa. “We wanted to get the  position and store concept just right for our first venture into such an iconic holiday locale.” 

The store will be located just outside of Tiffany & Co on the city’s major shopping thoroughfare, Kalakaua Avenue, which is opposite Waikiki Beach.

Closer to home, a raft of new stores are also set to open in Australia this year including three in Queensland in Airlie Beach, Ipswich and Carindale, and a fourth in Cockle Bay, in Sydney’s  Darling Harbour.  

The brand’s flagship Watson’s Bay address is set for a significant revamp that will showcase Gelatissimo’s soon-to-be-released new-look branding and fresh new interior  design. 

The new concept is planned for release mid-year, as a celebration of Gelatissimo’s 20th anniversary. 

“We have spent the last two decades enjoying sustainable growth and increasing brand awareness nationally and feel the time is now right to really ramp up our international  presence and continue our Australian expansion,” said Barbosa.

This story originally appeared in our sister publication, Inside Franchise Business Executive.