Phil Mickelson Invests in Robot-Delivered Desserts

The legendary golfer is poised to help define the 'unattended retail experience' for the next generation

(SAN DIEGO, CA) - Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTCBB: VEND) announced that its flagship subsidiary, Reis & Irvy’s, has inked a deal with five-time major championship golfer and World Golf Hall of Famer, Phil Mickelson, and his career-long business manager and business partner, Steve Loy, for 30 new Reis & Irvy’s locations to be installed throughout San Diego County (where Phil is a native and resides with his family).

Reis & Irvy’s-branded signature robot characters of the same name can dispense servings of frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelatos and sorbet topped with a selection of six delicious toppings in under 60 seconds. With self-checkout touch screen ordering and payment options, video animation, music and delicious frozen dessert provided exclusively by Dannon, robot vendors meet consumer demand for convenience, entertainment and a superior quality product.  

Phil Mickelson and Steve Loy continue to expand upon their business portfolio with the investment in Reis & Irvy’s that is challenging the status quo in food retail by catering to this generation’s expectations of immersive, entertaining and on-demand shopping experiences.  “We have seen the development of Reis and Irvy’s over the last eight months and became intrigued with the advancement and benefits of robotics which enhance the delivery of quality products to the consumer while reducing overhead cost,” said Steve Loy.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of such transformative industry change,” said Mickelson. “I’ve pushed boundaries my whole career and that mindset carries over into the business world. The energy and passion from the Generation NEXT team to both deliver a quality product and disrupt food retail is exciting.”

Describing “the new arms race in retail,” John Bird of Forbes wrote that “unattended retail storefronts” — with their speed, flexibility and improved customer experience — are the future of retail. Brands like McDonald’s are successfully innovating their customer experience and “it will change forever the landscape” of casual dining, with “Gen-Xers, millennials, and successive generations already used to a computer interface for making most of their daily choices.”

With over $130 million in franchise and licensing contracts, Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTCBB:VEND) is leading the way with frozen desserts, fully autonomous robotic delivery, visual and audio entertainment, and a unique retail experience.

Reis & Irvy’s: Franchise Expansion Highlights:

Since its debut, Reis & Irvy’s has grown to over 235 franchisees across the U.S. and represents over 1,100 pending robot installations aggregating over $45 million, with additional contract commitments for 2,300 robots worth an estimated $130M in potential future revenues for Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc.

Reis & Irvy’s has strengthened its offerings by teaming up with some of the world’s largest manufacturing and logistics partners, including Dannon YoCream (www.yocream.com), Flex, Ltd. (www.flex.com), Stoelting Food Service (www.stoelting.com), who created the very first soft-serve machine for Dairy Queen, and Pitney Bowes (www.pitneybowes.com), who will provide the installation and national servicing.

Nick Yates, Chairman of Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc., is proud to be associated with such a high-profile athlete-entrepreneur of Mickelson’s global stature. “Phil is consistently ranked by ESPN as one of the ten most highly-regarded athletes in the world. Having such a well-respected champion as a stakeholder and franchisee, in our own backyard here in San Diego, is an honor, and a confirmation of our mission to help bring about a dramatic change in food retail,” said Yates.

For more information, visit the Reis & Irvy’s website at www.reisandirvys.com or call Toll-Free (888) 902-7558.