Kilwins Looks to Expand in the Austin Metro with About 10 Locations

Ice cream and chocolate treats franchise Kilwins is targeting the Austin area for expansion.

Michigan-based Kilwins Chocolate Franchise Inc., which has a location in Georgetown, is seeking franchisees and real estate for its growth plans here, and it already has sold some territories in the metro. Kilwins also has plans to expand across Texas because of the state’s growing population, said Ron Galbreath, vice president of franchise development.

“Over half of our sales is ice cream, and we tend to do better in warmer climates,” Galbreath said. “So you take all that kind of added up, and it just seems like a sweet spot.”

The Austin metro could support at least 10 stores, Galbreath said, and the dessert business has signed franchise territories in Leander, Cedar Park and downtown Austin, while a few others are preparing to sign in the coming months. A Kilwins is opening in EastVillage at the end of 2025 or early 2026, he said.

The company will likely open one to two stores annually starting next year until it builds out the market or runs out of franchisee interest. Potential future areas to develop include Bear Creek, Westlake Hills, and Lost Creek, Galbreath said.

Kilwins has a total of 175 stores in 29 states with a particularly strong presence in Florida, where a lot of people are introduced to the brand, he said. He hopes people will eventually discover Kilwins in Texas, as they do when vacationing in Florida.