Salman Siddiqui, Baskin-Robbins' vice president of global business development tells GlobeSt.com that the state's current crop of 60 stores are dual units, sharing space with Dunkin Brands' Dunkin Donuts chains. "What we're trying to do is build more traditional stores, single-brand stores in the state," Siddiqui tells GlobeSt.com.

He explains that Georgia is an attractive state for a variety of reasons, one of which is that the consumer base likes the brand. Additionally, Georgia provides a solid base for Baskin-Robbins to expand into northern Florida and the Carolinas. Siddiqui says the ideal location for a traditional Baskin-Robbins store is in a neighborhood center anchored by a grocery store, with a large population base. "An end-cap store with a drive-through would be great," he says.

In addition to the traditional store formats that require between 800 to 1,200 square feet, potential franchisees can select the company's higher-end Café 31 or focus on BR Express, which is a new soft-serve kiosk design that can provide co-branded opportunities with other real estate operators. Siddiqui says the different real estate formats can provide a franchisee with a diverse portfolio of retail outlets.

"We want the right operator," he adds. "We want people who are organized and who want to bring smiles to the people who walk into the stores. We want people who know the needs of customers coming in."