JOIN OUR FRANCHISE FAMILY
A destination with timeless handcrafted desserts and operational simplicity.
THE EXPERIENCE
Elevated by fourth generation chocolatiers, the MilkShake Factory delivers handcrafted milkshakes and chocolates with a sophisticated yet simple operation.
Make Life Sweeter
WHY US?
Our family has been bringing inspiration to life with handcrafted chocolates and milkshakes since the turn of the century. Our love of chocolate has been handed down from generations of chocolatiers that came before us. Since 1914, we have crafted premium chocolates using our heritage recipes and techniques. We want to give other families and small business owners the ability to confidently bring the simple joys of life and magical moments to their own communities.
Be a Part of Our Family
fourth generation chocolatiers committed to creating a family culture
Commitment to Quality
century old family recipes, proprietary housemade ice cream, high quality ingredients blended with imagination
INVEST IN A TIMELESS BUSINESS
refined concept with strong economics that can successfully operate at scale
Dedicated Team
years of franchise experience to guide you through every step
Certified Training Programs
established certified shaker and chocolatier training programs
A Sweeter Life
bring the simple joys of life and magical moments to your community
OUR RICH HISTORY
MilkShake Factory® begins in 1914 as a small soda fountain and chocolate shop in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. Charlie and Orania immigrated from Greece and opened their first chocolate shop and soda fountain. At the time, a milkshake was a true treat for the whole family. Home refrigeration was a luxury few could afford, so to savor the taste of ice cream, let alone the thick chill of a handmade milkshake, was cause for an excursion to a soda fountain.
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Our dad, Jeff Edwards, shown here filming an episode on Mister Rogers Neighborhood in 1974, taught us the art of candy making and the focus on innovation, which is reflected in our product offerings today.
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Our mom, Dona Edwards, instilled in us the importance of product quality, retail sales, merchandising, guest relations, and how to use chocolate and ice cream to create good will in our community.
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Chris, Dana, and Mark, the fourth generation of chocolatiers, grew up in the chocolate factory. From a young age our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents taught us how to work hard, manage our team, and create products using innovative flavors.
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In 2003, Dana created the idea of the MilkShake Factory during a college business course. Shortly after, the family decided to implement the concept into their existing retail location on the South Side of Pittsburgh.
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Each generation has put their own touch on the business, and as this generation took the reigns, they elevated the company from a small regional chocolatier to a super regional retailer and wholesale operation available in 40,000 stores globally.
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OUR STORY
In the early 2000s, the fourth generation took over the family business and established a unique retail operation that created a community focused dessert destination. Today we are ready to invite like-minded entrepreneurs to use our playbook to make life sweeter for their local communities.
WE DON’T CUT CORNERS
The MilkShake Factory takes pride in every product we serve, and we never cut corners. From a young age, we were taught that everything starts with the right ingredients which means every aspect of MilkShake Factory has been refined from our customer experience to improved operational efficiencies, and the ingredients we use to balance flavors.
BE A PILLAR OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Our stores are a gathering destination in the communities we serve. Being a successful MilkShake Factory franchisee means being a pillar of your community and enjoying the benefits of giving back.
MEET OUR TEAM
At MilkShake Factory, we believe that the key to a successful franchise is a strong support team. Our team has extensive experience in the retail and franchise industry, and we’re committed to helping you achieve your goals as a franchisee. We have a dedicated support staff that’s committed to helping our franchisees succeed. When you become a MilkShake Factory franchisee, you’ll have access to all of our resources and expertise.
Dana Edwards Manatos
FOUNDER & CEOStarted scooping ice cream and making chocolates as a kid. Created MilkShake Factory during a college business course. Left a career working at The White House to come back to the family business. Hobbyist photographer. Wife and mother of 3.
Dan Reese
PRESIDENTFormer leader of $2B Kraft Heinz condiments portfolio. Degrees from elite college basketball schools – Michigan State and Duke. Amateur pizza chef. Washed up athlete. 3x girl Dad.
Shawn Smith
VP OF OPERATIONS30+ years experience creating hospitality business systems. Former cross country and track star turned 5-time Coach of the Year. Hockey Dad and Mr. Fixit around the house.
Franworth
FRANCHISE EXPERTSFranworth’s team of experienced professionals accelerates brand value by building, incubating and growing brands using a franchise model and shared services platform.
FEATURED ON
How it Works
Ready to become a Milkshake Factory franchise business owner? The following process outlines the steps it takes to join our family.
TELL US IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
Complete the MilkShake Factory contact form on our website. This information will help us determine if the franchise opportunity is a good fit for you and if you’re a good fit for our franchise system.
INTRODUCTION TO THE MILKSHAKE FACTORY
Receive a comprehensive understanding of the MilkShake Factory franchise opportunity, including a brand overview, franchise support, your role as an owner, investment details, the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), an overview of the unit economics, and a review of our marketing and operations systems.
TERRITORY PROPOSAL & FRANCHISE APPLICATION PAPERWORK
Identify potential territory for your MilkShake Factory and let us know you’re interested in moving forward by completing our application paperwork.
DISCOVERY DAY
Attend a Discovery Day at corporate to meet the executive team and see the entire system firsthand, giving you a better sense of the company’s culture and whether it’s a good fit for you.
SIGN FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
Sign the franchise agreement to officially become a part of the MilkShake Factory family and start your journey as a franchise owner, with access to ongoing support and resources to help you succeed.
ONBOARDING & TRAINING
Onboard with the MilkShake Factory team to set up your franchise, including acquiring real estate and purchasing equipment. Our team will guide you through the process to ensure a smooth launch. Participate in our comprehensive training program, which includes both classroom and on-the-job training to prepare you for success. You’ll learn everything from operations to marketing, allowing you to run your franchise confidently.
CONSTRUCTION
Construct your MilkShake Factory franchise location, with support from our franchisor resources. We provide you with guidance and resources to help you navigate the construction process, including site selection, design, and construction management. Our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your location is built to our specifications and ready for your grand opening.
GRAND OPENING
Open your MilkShake Factory franchise and start serving delicious milkshakes and sweets to your community! Our ongoing support team will continue to provide you with guidance and resources to achieve ongoing success.
THE SWEETEST WORDS EVER!
As always, they have the best milkshakes in the United States at every store. This store was no exception to that.
Great service. Nice variety of sundaes and shakes made before your eyes. High quality ingredients. A happy place with happy faces.
Redefines what a milkshake is. Delicious and fresh.
Holy hell one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted!
Don’t do it. You’re never going to find a better milkshake in your life. You’ll be hooked forever.
I absolutely loved this place. I wish there was one of these near me!
The milkshakes are awesome, and the staff is always friendly and inviting. Even after the pandemic, their customer service remained top-notch.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
At MilkShake Factory, we’re looking for franchisees who are passionate about providing their communities with a sweeter life and are motivated by a genuine care for people. If this sounds like you, keep reading to see if you have what it takes to join our team.
TAKE OWNERSHIP
You’ll be responsible for providing your customers with the highest quality desserts and a memorable experience. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be passionate about creating a positive impact on your community and taking ownership of your business.
BUSINESS MINDSET
Our franchisees are smart, driven, and understand what it takes to be successful in business. They’re able to identify opportunities and have a strategic mindset that allows them to make informed decisions that drive growth. If you have a strong business acumen and a desire to succeed, we want to hear from you.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
We require that our franchisees have the financial resources to launch and support their business. To meet these requirements, you must have a minimum net worth of $700K, including $200K in liquid assets. If you are passionate about entrepreneurship and a sweet business, and meet our financial requirements, we’d love to hear from you.
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