Kilwins has been named the No. 1 Best Ice Cream Chain of 2026 in Newsweek's Readers' Choice Awards, topping a list of 20 ice cream brands selected by Newsweek's panelists and contributors and ultimately decided by reader vote. The recognition places Kilwins ahead of well-known national names including Cold Stone Creamery, Ben & Jerry's and Graeter's.
Brian Britton, CEO of Kilwins, said the recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the everyday experiences guests have at Kilwins locations, adding that nearly 80 years of commitment to exceptional ice cream and confections, paired with a warm, memorable in-store experience, is what has defined the brand across generations. He called earning the top spot from Newsweek readers a reflection of the passion shown by Kilwins' franchise owners, team members and loyal guests nationwide. Angie Eckelkamp, Chief Marketing Officer of Kilwins, said being recognized by consumers on a national stage reinforces what makes the brand special, pointing to the role ice cream plays in vacation traditions, family outings and simple everyday moments that keep guests coming back.
The Newsweek honor adds to a run of recent recognition for Kilwins. Earlier in 2026, the brand was named the No. 1 Best Dessert/Treat Chain in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and it has held the No. 1 spot in the candy, ice cream and frozen desserts category on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list for ten consecutive years. That momentum has come alongside real growth: in 2025 alone, Kilwins opened 19 new locations and signed 31 new franchise agreements, pushing its footprint to nearly 200 locations nationwide.
Consumer-voted recognition like this carries real weight because it isn't something a brand can simply claim for itself, it has to be tracked, earned and reinforced across every location a guest might visit. Gorilla Dash offers a Reputation Management feature designed to help franchise brands monitor and showcase this kind of public recognition and customer sentiment, supporting the kind of consistent, guest-driven reputation that helped put Kilwins at the top of Newsweek's list.