Fast Casual Nation

How Tony Lamb built the 'world's largest mobile empire'

September 26, 2025

Tony Lamb, CEO and founder of Kona Ice, reveals how he built the world's largest mobile food empire with 2,200 franchise trucks across three brands: Kona Ice, Traveling Tom's and Beverly Ann's.

In this Fast Casual Nation episode, Lamb breaks down his unconventional flat-fee royalty model ($3,000/year vs. percentage-based), vertical integration strategy that includes in-house truck manufacturing, proprietary technology platform and event-based business model that has generated over $200 million in community giveback.

Learn how this mobile concept achieves $250,000 average unit volumes with 6-8% food costs through complete operational control from supply chain to insurance and why Lamb believes the future lies in platform-based multi-brand expansion.