Cold Rock, an iconic destination for frozen treats, has grown from a simple American concept in 1996 to become a beloved staple across multiple states and cities.

More than just an ice cream store, Cold Rock is an immersive experience where creativity meets quality. With over 30,000 flavor and Mix In combinations, every visit is a chance to create a one-of-a-kind treat. From custom ice cream cakes and shakes to cups, cones, and take-home tubs, Cold Rock offers something special for every taste.

Cold Rock sources its dairy exclusively, ensuring fresh, local quality in every scoop. Today, Cold Rock continues to deliver unique, memorable moments with every visit, all backed by efficient, reliable operations through Operandio.

The challenge

Before implementing Operandio, Cold Rock faced some challenges with managing operations and compliance consistently across over 70 franchise locations. Each franchise had varying levels of experience, training, and adherence to compliance standards, making it difficult to maintain brand consistency and operational quality.

Training and communication also posed other challenges. With a diverse workforce, including staff and franchisees, achieving consistent understanding and execution of procedures was difficult. Promotions, compliance requirements, and operational updates did not always reach all levels, potentially leading to uninformed staff and potential customer dissatisfaction.

Cold Rock needed a solution that provided a unified system to reduce food safety issues, increase compliance, enhance employee training and increase consistency across multiple franchises and all levels of the Cold Rock brand.

The solution

Cold Rock selected Operandio to streamline and standardize its food monitoring and compliance operations. Operandio’s powerful operations and compliance software revolutionized the business, creating a standardized system across all its locations and franchises. With Operandio, Cold Rock was able to transform complex, manual processes into a seamless, integrated platform that enhanced both efficiency and accountability.

How Operandio impacted multi-franchise location operations

• Digital checklists for daily operations and compliance: Operandio introduced digital checklists for each store, replacing paper-based lists with an organized, easily accessible format. This upgrade allowed Cold Rock to ensure that essential tasks, such as cleaning schedules and routine checks, were consistently completed and documented across all locations.
• Food safety compliance tracking: With Operandio’s centralized compliance tracking, Cold Rock could efficiently monitor critical food safety standards across stores. Staff could now record and access food safety tasks digitally, ensuring that compliance was maintained daily, and that managers had real-time visibility into each store’s compliance status.
• Automated temperature monitoring sensors: Operandio’s automated temperature sensors allowed Cold Rock to monitor freezer and refrigerator temperatures continuously, alerting staff to issues before they resulted in spoilage. This proactive approach not only prevented product loss but safeguarded food safety standards, reducing risks associated with temperature fluctuations.
• Real-time reporting and monitoring across locations: Operandio provided real-time reporting tools that enabled Cold Rock’s headquarters to monitor performance and compliance levels across all locations. This capability gave regional managers the ability to quickly identify areas needing improvement, ensuring consistent quality and service across the brand.
• Centralized training modules with certification tracking: Operandio’s platform included a comprehensive training module where staff could access, complete, and track training sessions. This system ensured that every team member was properly certified for their role, providing a standardized training experience across locations and making compliance audits seamless.
• Seamless communication across all levels: Operandio enabled Cold Rock to communicate effectively with all staff members, from franchisees to entry-level employees. Important updates, such as promotional announcements or policy changes, were sent directly through the platform, with acknowledgment tracking to confirm that each team member had read and understood the information.
• Compliance tracking for health inspections: Operandio’s digital record-keeping provided an organized, easily accessible repository for compliance documents. When health inspectors visited, Cold Rock could present all necessary audit and temperature records on a single platform, demonstrating its commitment to high food safety standards and eliminating the need for physical documents.
• Label printing software: Operandio’s label printing software helped Cold Rock automate the food labeling process, minimizing labor time and reducing labeling errors. This automation ensured accurate labeling across products, which streamlined food safety practices and allowed staff to focus on other critical tasks.

Future outlook

Cold Rock Ice Creamery’s continued success is built not only on its iconic brand and the 30,000+ unique flavor and mix-in combinations that customers love but also on the operational excellence that Operandio enables. By implementing Operandio’s comprehensive operations and compliance software, Cold Rock has transformed its franchise management, ensuring every location runs smoothly and adheres to the highest standards.

By choosing Operandio, Cold Rock Ice Creamery is staying ahead of the competition in operations management, allowing each franchise to focus on what truly matters—continuing to be a favorite frozen treat destination.

As Cold Rock Ice Creamery continues to expand, Operandio will remain a key partner in their ongoing success.