Haägen-Dazs is hatching big plans to re-ignite excitement of its brand with a major nationwide expansion.
The 260-unit chain will zero in on major East and West Coast markets, including California — and more specifically Orange County — said Dan Ogiba, director of franchise development for Häagen-Dazs.
“California is one of our strongest markets,” Ogiba told me during a recent phone interview. “We have eight shops in Orange County. We feel we can double the size in O.C.”
The local invasion is part of Häagen-Dazs’ plan to grow 10 percent a year in markets where the brand already exists, Ogiba said. Other regions the chain is targeting include South Florida, New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Baltimore/Washington D.C. area and Atlanta.
“The markets we selected are based on existing penetration,” he said. “We’re not trying to tackle places we don’t have a presence.”
Why expand now?
Ogiba said the chain is taking advantage the down real estate market, which has led to a number of restaurant vacancies over the past 18 months.
“We’re getting locations in great markets that were simply not available” before the recession hit, he said. “We’re definitely an in-demand tenant right now.”
Still, no new leases have been signed in Orange County, where Häagen-Dazs currently has locations in Newport Beach, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach and Laguna Hills.
Ogiba said he’s looking at expanding shops in the following areas: Northern Orange County, possibly Fullerton or Brea; Irvine and Mission Viejo.
Tell us: Where would you like to see the next Häagen-Dazs?
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Not only is Hagen Daz doubling in size so are the fat people that go there. They will be doubling thier waist size and will blame it on bad genetics.
Too late!
Yeah, I think folks need to have discipline and “budget” their eating, i.e. eat a smaller dinner if planning to have desert, etc. Things like that help.
what about Chino Hills, CA (next door to OC county lines). We have
the new shopping center The Shoppes and the The Commons.
Bella Terra in Huntington Beach. Tremendous walk-by traffic. Good movie theater traffic. A nice central area with free live music. No good ice cream there. Just one of poor quality and high price. I’m not impressed. Question: are your stores corporate or franchise? If you need a manager at the future HB store let me know. I don’t know why you closed the store at Peters Landing. It was always packed.
I was a soda jerk for a Haagen-Daz in Westlake Lake Village growing up. My friends would eat the Rum-raisin because they thought it had rum in it.
Not sure Haägen-Dazs (as I’ve always pronounced it “HAY-GUN DAYS”) will work in Atlanta. The people here aren’t really into freufreu ice cream joints, preferring instead casual, down-to-earth type ice cream places like Brusters and Carvel.
Archie, we need to get you out more. There are a bunch of Haagen-Dazs Shops in the Atlanta area: Underground Atlanta, Phipps Plaza, Cumberland Festival Shopping Center, Cumberland Mall, North Point Mall, Lenox Squre Mall, Perimeter Mall, and Town Center Cobb. And what could be more “down to earth” than “all natural” ice cream? Yum, yum and yum.
Apparently, I DO need to get out more! I wasn’t aware we had any in the state! But then, I don’t go ITP much.
Way to do your best at keeping America FAT!!!
caseclosed - please don’t give any ideas to the dummies in charge, umkay? lol
What Dicky said.
Funny how much sugar the population can tolerate.
I love HD but my limit on this type of dessert is 1/yr or so, otherwise I just plump up.
These concepts seem to cycle in and out, in and out over the period of decades.
Remember the first Fro-Yo’’s of the 80’s?
They incarnated back in a different format, but will shrink again, only to rise up some years later.
Same with the Ice Cream thing.
Humans love their sweets!
Dan Ogiba, director of franchise development for Häagen-Dazs, wants to penetrate us with ice cream?
Popsicles?????????????
I’d like to see one in RSM. Had a Belgium Chocolate Shake at a HD recently, yum!
I agree there are a few empty spots it would do well in.
Their coffee ice cream is amazing!!
Major mistake ! Frozen yogurt has replaced ice cream for good. You would think that ice cream companies would get a clue and get away from the fat laden stuff, as eating healthier is here to stay. What a shame, ice cream products are no longer selling as well in grocery stores. Take a good hard look at all of the frozen yogurt companies in the OC, Non-Fat, fruit toppings, making ice cream the past.
Nope - don’t think so. If is was, then why are all these FroYo places going out of business and the DQ’s and Caravels and Baskin Robbins, etc still going strong? The only mistake is perhaps trying to open up an ice cream store that is going to be too expensive for most people.
Why do the posters who are so upset with fast food and sugar and fat even read this blog?? Are they really closet “fatties” as they are accusing the rest of us as being??
American’s love their sweets and their fast food and if a perticular person can not eat these foods in moderation, it’s not the companies fault. So get over yourselves and quit complaning about the companies making people fat.
This doesn’t surpise me. They are in nearly every hotel in Vegas.
As far as the haters go - no one is forcing people to shop at this places (heck, Haagen Daz is pretty damn expensive as far as ice cream goes). They wouldn’t be expanding if they didn’t think the market was there. If people stop shopping at places, then they go away. It’s simple economics so stop blaming the stores.
Also, it’s none of your damn business if I want to have a occasional treat from Haagen Daz, or any where else for that matter. Everyone complained that fast food resturants should offer more “healthy” foods and most of those “healthy” foods they added would be worse for you than a 1 scoop cone from Haagen Daz! Just lay off people.
I’m with mvmommy! Why come on here(FAST FOOD MAVEN)blog and criticize patrons of these places. Why are you even reading this blog? Get a life!!
Yes indeed, moderation is the key.
I weighed in at almost 300 pounds a long time ago. I learned I can eat anything….even ice cream, cream pie, cake and cookies, just as long as I don’t over do it. I now weigh a svelt 130 lbs. and TREAT myself to a yummy treat like ice cream, maybe once a week. Because I watch my calories so carefully, I DESERVE it.
Woo-Hoo Bill! Good for you!