Cold Stone Creamery SWOT Analysis, Competitors & USP

Cold Stone Creamery SWOT analysis evaluates the brand by its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats. In SWOT Analysis of Cold Stone Creamery, the strengths and weaknesses are the internal factors whereas opportunities and threats are the external factors.

SWOT Analysis is a proven management framework which enables a brand like Cold Stone Creamery to benchmark its business & performance as compared to the competitors, and make strategic improvements. Cold Stone Creamery is one of the leading brands in the food & beverages sector.

The article below lists the Cold Stone Creamery SWOT, competitors and includes its target market, segmentation, positioning & USP. Let us start the Cold Stone Creamery SWOT Analysis:

SWOT Analysis of Cold Stone Creamery

For Cold Stone Creamery, SWOT analysis can help the brand focus on building upon its strengths and opportunities while addressing its weaknesses as well as threats to improve its market position.

Cold Stone Creamery Strengths

The strengths of Cold Stone Creamery looks at the key aspects of its business which gives it competitive advantage in the market. Some important factors in a brand's strengths include its financial position, experienced workforce, product uniqueness & intangible assets like brand value. Below are the Strengths in the SWOT Analysis of Cold Stone Creamery :

1. Cold Stone Creamery is a leading franchisor of premium ice cream parlors with a chain of more than 1,500 locations in about 25 countries

2. Strong social media following

3. Customized menu and super premium ice cream

4. Variety of mix-ins available for customers

5. Co-branding Canadian coffee shop Tim Hortons & opened up 100 co-branded stores in USA .This strategic alliance allowed Cold stone to open stores in USA

6. It has also entered in partnership with Kraft foods & Jell-o brands. 7. All ice cream is made in house using natural ingredients and waffle cones and bowls are baked daily

Cold Stone Creamery Weaknesses

The weaknesses of a brand are certain aspects of its business which are it can improve to increase its position further. Certain weaknesses can be defined as attributes which the company is lacking or in which the competitors are better. Here are the weaknesses in the Cold Stone Creamery SWOT Analysis:

1. There have been allegations by independent franchises that Cold Stone's business practices have put them at a competitive disadvantage. 
2. Intense competition means limited market share and low margins

Cold Stone Creamery Opportunities

The opportunities for any brand can include areas of improvement to increase its business. A brand's opportunities can lie in geographic expansion, product improvements, better communication etc. Following are the opportunities in Cold Stone Creamery SWOT Analysis:

1. Increase number of franchises for good margins & returns 
2. Increase number of outlets in other geographies

Cold Stone Creamery Threats

The threats for any business can be factors which can negatively impact its business. Some factors like increased competitor activity, changing government policies, alternate products or services etc. can be threats. The threats in the SWOT Analysis of Cold Stone Creamery are as mentioned:

1. Increase in number of competitors with similar value proposition
2. Increase in food regulation standards

3. Seasonality - To drive restaurant sales one has to continuously innovate & offer new exciting products

Cold Stone Creamery Competitors

There are several brands in the market which are competing for the same set of customers. Below are the top 3 competitors of Cold Stone Creamery:

1. Ben & Jerry

2. International Dairy Queen

3. Dunkin brand group

Hence this concludes the Cold Stone Creamery SWOT analysis.

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About Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery Overview
Parent Company	Kahala brands
Category	Restaurants
Sector	Food & Beverages
Tagline/ Slogan	Because the world deserves a better ice cream
USP	true to the chain's name, the ice cream is blended with those ingredients on a cold stone slab, offers a menu of premium ice cream treats
Cold Stone Creamery STP
Segmentation	People who love Ice creams
Target Market	Family , kids , youth , elders
Positioning	American-based ice cream parlor chain

This article has been researched & authored by the Content & Research Team. It has been reviewed & published by the MBA Skool Team. The content on MBA Skool has been created for educational & academic purpose only.

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