Blending Italian craftsmanship with British flair, Creams has grown into UK’s largest dessert café franchise with ambitious plans to expand to 300 outlets in the UK and internationally.
At the core of Creams is its commitment to innovation, and franchisee support. Offering an extensive range of desserts – artisanal gelato made in its own London-based gelato production facility crafted using premium ingredients like Madagascan vanilla & Sicilian lemons, and an exciting range of freshly cooked waffles, sundaes, and crepes
Creams also leads the industry forward through first-to-market product launches, aimed at creating new occasions and new experiences to those with a sweet tooth. The award-winning Hot Pocket range was a game changer, significantly reversing the winter seasonal drop in sales
Innovation goes beyond sweet indulgence. Having recently launched a unique savoury menu to broaden appeal and enticing 21% new customers in during weak dayparts like morning and lunchtime, this continued innovation highlights Creams’ ability to adapt to consumer needs while enhancing profitability for its franchise partners.
Built to enable partners to thrive, layers of support are on-hand. From continuous learning, training and development available through its platform ‘The Learning Sweet’, to comprehensive ongoing support like tailored marketing assistance from store launches to local promotions, Creams’ close collaboration with franchisees strives to create a true partnership.
The innovative spirit goes beyond simply the menu, with the business constantly adopting new technologies to enhance both customer experience and operational efficiency. A major advancement is the rollout of a new till system across the estate. Access offers real-time sales data visibility to both franchisees and the support centre, going beyond traditional EPOS capabilities, as well as including a state-of-the-art Procure Wizard, and Rota Ready – a staff scheduling tool to simplify the process. In addition, Creams is investing in AI-driven P&L analysis to ensure Franchise Partners can efficiently manage their businesses with real-time insights and targeted recommendations.
Finally, the businesses commitment to CSR is deeply embedded into its ethos. From carefully selecting responsible supply partners, to reducing its environmental footprint through continuous evaluation and improvement, such as reducing single-use plastics and minimising packaging waste. All while energy-saving technologies reduce overall energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and support Franchise Partners by reducing operating costs.
Anna, Franchise Owner of Creams Kingston, shared her experience: “My journey with Creams Café has been a true taste of success. With a background in business management and a passion for hospitality, I seized the opportunity to become a franchise partner. Creams has equipped me with the skills to run a successful franchise. As the restaurant flourishes, I’m now actively seeking my second location.
With a combination of heritage, innovation, and a strong support system, Creams Café offers an unrivalled opportunity in the thriving dessert sector.