CINCINNATI (Cincinnati Business Courier) – Tony Lamb built an $80 million-plus empire from something everyone has in their freezer: ice cream. Kona Ice, the mobile shaved ice vendor founded by Lamb in 2007, has become ubiquitous at youth sporting events, birthday parties, fundraisers, school festivals and other community gatherings across America from the North.

With his fleet of approximately 1,900 vehicles, Lamb runs the world’s largest food truck company by transforming frozen water into cold, crunchy treats drizzled with bright, sweet syrups.

Kona’s revenue, which comes from franchise fees, royalties and the supply chain it provides to its franchisees, jumped 153% between 2021 and 2023, from $32.3 million to $81. 4 million dollars. It is one of the fastest growing private companies in the region. Total sales from its approximately 800 franchisees in the United States, Canada and Mexico are expected to reach approximately $450 million in 2024.

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