Another ice cream test at Krispy Kreme.

A Krispy Kreme franchisee in Seattle is testing an ice cream line in his stores, apparently with corporate approval. The move follows by only a few months an announcement by Krispy Kreme CEO Darryl Brewster that the company was testing an ice cream product in several company-owned stores.

Seattle's Icon LLC, which operates a dozen Krispy Kreme outlets in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and British Columbia, has opened an ice cream outlet called Kool Kreme within its Tacoma store. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Kool Kreme has its own identity inside the store, with its own signage and display.

The soft-serve line is offered in cones, sundaes, shakes, and floats. Two-topping sundaes are reported to sell for $2.59, cones for $1.79, shakes for $2.49 and $2.89, and floats for $1.89. There is also a product called Frenzee which is similar to a Dairy Queen Blizzard and costs $1.89.

Icon CEO Gerard Centioli told the News Tribune he has invested over $250,000 to develop the ice cream being tested in his store. The Krispy Kreme corporation rejected the idea twice before finally giving him permission to proceed. Centioli told the paper that franchise owners both domestic and international have visited the Tacoma store to test the product and he is hoping that positive responses from them will move the corporation to adopt the product for a national rollout.

Ten corporate-owned stores are reported to be offering the "Ice Kreme" frozen dessert developed by the corporation and announced in June at the company's annual shareholders meeting. It was noted at the time that the addition of the ice cream products was intended to drive foot traffic at the company's stores, helping to offset a slump in sales.

The corporation's ice cream, called "Krispy Kreme Ice Kreme" was reported to be available in vanilla, chocolate and a mixed swirl flavor. In addition, the corporation was testing a doughnut sundae, featuring Krispy Kreme doughnuts topped with any of the ice-cream flavors, as well as toppings that include chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and caramel syrup.