Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever said on Thursday it plans to open 75 Ben & Jerry's stores in Spain as a first step to expand the ice cream maker's presence in Europe.
"We now have one or two Ben & Jerry's in Barcelona, and the plan is to grow further in Spain," a Unilever spokesman said, confirming a report by Dutch press agency ANP.
Unilever will open the 75 Ben & Jerry's franchise stores over the next four to five years, he said.
"Ben & Jerry's is still small in Europe and we are planning to enter the European market with the brand. We want to expand Ben & Jerry's in Europe and this is a step in that process," he added.
Unilever bought Ben & Jerry's two years ago for $324 million.
Unilever, the world's top fast-moving consumer products group, makes Lipton teas, Dove soap and Skippy peanut butter.
It consolidated its global number three ranking in the food sector behind Nestle and Philip Morris by buying US Bestfoods for $24.4 billion including debt.