Bengaluru : Polar Bear, the Ice Cream Sundae Zone, has achieved a landmark milestone with the launch of its 200th outlet nationally, which also marks its 100th parlour in Bengaluru, the city where the brand’s journey began. A 100% Indian-owned, self-funded brand, Polar Bear has grown from a single store near Bengaluru’s ITPL in 2008 to 200 dine-in sundae parlours across more than 35 cities, making it one of India’s largest homegrown dessert chains.
Founded by entrepreneur Kishore Rai, Polar Bear has steadily built its presence through a singular focus on quality, innovation and memorable customer experiences. Remaining entirely self-funded throughout its journey, the brand has expanded sustainably over the years, earning the trust of millions of customers and strong franchise network while creating a distinctive space in India’s evolving premium dessert market.
From its beginnings in Bengaluru to establishing a presence across multiple cities, Polar Bear has built a loyal customer base through its wide range of ice creams sundaes, shakes, sorbets and ice cream cakes. Over the years, the brand has helped shape the dine-in sundae parlour format by transforming desserts into an experience by bringing together families, friends and dessert lovers to celebrate both special occasions and everyday moments.
Commenting on the milestone, Kishore Rai, Founder, Polar Bear, said
” Polar Bear started in 2008 with a simple vision – to delight every customer with a memorable ice cream sundae experience. At that time, we felt the market was largely focused on selling scoops of ice cream, while the sundae category had immense untapped potential. We set out to create innovative, indulgent sundaes using carefully curated recipes and high-quality dairy ingredients, giving customers an experience that was far more exciting than just eating ice cream.
Every store is today designed to be a destination where people come together to celebrate everyday moments. Reaching 100 parlours in Bengaluru alone is a testament to that vision and reflects a scale that only few dessert chains have achieved within a single Indian city. We are grateful to our consumers for their unwavering love and support. We hope to continue being a part of their celebrations and everyday moments for many years to come.”
Adding to this, Prashant Prakash, Senior Vice President – Commercial & Operations, Polar Bear, said:
“Quality is at the heart of everything we do at Polar Bear. From sourcing premium ingredients to maintaining stringent quality standards across every outlet, we ensure that every sundae consistently delights our customers. Our menu continues to evolve with innovative flavours, generous portions and exciting combinations that cater to changing consumer preferences. As we celebrate our 200th store, our focus remains on delivering an experience that combines taste, freshness and exceptional service.”
Polar Bear’s growth reflects the changing way India enjoys desserts. What was once considered an occasional indulgence has increasingly become a post-dinner ritual and a preferred way for families and friends to unwind and celebrate together. Recognising this shift in consumer lifestyles, the brand has continued to innovate with handcrafted sundaes, seasonal creations and inviting dine-in spaces that make dessert an occasion in itself.
The company’s expansion has been driven by a strong franchise-led model, with nearly two-thirds of its outlets operated by long-term franchise partners. This collaborative approach has enabled Polar Bear to scale consistently while maintaining the quality, customer experience and operational standards that define every parlour.
Over the years, Polar Bear has been built through a hybrid model of company-owned and franchise-operated stores & today continues to strengthen its presence across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Kerala.
As Polar Bear celebrates this landmark milestone, the company looks ahead to its next phase of growth by deepening its presence across existing markets while expanding into new geographies, continuing its mission of making handcrafted sundaes and memorable dessert experiences accessible to more consumers across India.