SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Kahala Corp., the parent company of Cold Stone Creamery, and Tim Hortons, Inc., has announced an agreement to test co-branding of Cold Stone Creamery and Tim Hortons in up to 50 stores in each chain in the United States by this spring.

"We are pleased to expand our association with Tim Hortons," said Kevin Blackwell, founder and chief executive officer of Kahala Corp. "Successful results from our initial test stores suggest that bringing our concepts together will increase the customer bases for both brands, allowing further sales growth opportunities."

The companies recently tested co-branding in a couple existing Tim Hortons stores in Rhode Island with successful results. The co-branding will combine Cold Stone’s ice cream with mix-ins and Tim Hortons coffee, beverages, baked goods, and breakfast and lunch offerings.

"Continued development awareness of the Tim Hortons brand beyond our base of 500 restaurants in the United States is a key element of our overall approach to U.S. growth," said Don Schroeder, president and chief executive officer of Tim Hortons. "Co-branding selected locations with Cold Stone Creamery, one of the most popular ice cream concepts in the United States, is a complementary opportunity we are looking forward to pursuing as part of this test initiative."