Who owns Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East)?
Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East) is made and sold by Minor International (Thailand, SET: MINT) under licence, an arrangement in place since 1986; Minor International does not own the name.[1][2] The name is owned by another company.
Key facts
- Licensed to
- Minor International Public Company Limited reported
- Since
- Headquarters
- 🇹🇭 Thailand, Bangkok
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States, San Francisco
- Founded
- 1948
- Category
- Restaurants & foodservice › Quick-service restaurants › Ice cream & dessert chains
- Parent ticker
- SET: MINT
- Last verified
- · 2 sources
About Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East)
Swensen's began as a San Francisco ice cream parlour in 1948. Minor Food acquired the master franchise rights to it in 1986, covering 32 countries across Asia and the Middle East, so it runs the restaurants without owning the name. The chain is far larger in Thailand than at home: 377 outlets at the end of 2024 in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, selling elaborate sundaes under the line "Happiness Never Melts".
Ownership timeline of Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East)
Where Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East) sits in Minor International
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Other brands handled by Minor International
Latest news about Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East)
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Frequently asked questions
Who makes Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East)?
Minor International makes and sells Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East) under a licensing agreement that has been in place since 1986.
Does Minor International own Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East)?
No. Minor International holds a licence to make and sell Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East), which is not the same as owning it.
Where did Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East) come from?
Swensen's (Asia and the Middle East) originated in the United States in 1948, in San Francisco.
Sources (2) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Minor Hotels — our brands — Minor Hotels, Official document; retrieved 23 September 2026.
- [2] Minor Food — our business — Minor Food Group, Official document; retrieved 23 September 2026.
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