Bubbies Ice Cream Acquired By Japanese Trading, Investment Firm Marubeni Corp.

June 30, 2025

The mochi ice cream brand will join Marubeni America Corp., looking to capitalize on parent company’s expertise and resources to fuel future growth.

Andy Hanacek

Phoenix, Ariz.-based Bubbies Ice Cream has been acquired by Japanese trading and investment company Marubeni Corp. The mochi ice cream brand will join Marubeni America Corp., based in New York City, and will continue to operate out of Phoenix, according to a release from the company.

Marubeni’s strong trade relationships and global resources are expected to boost Bubbies’ next phase of growth, helping the frozen novelties brand reach a global audience at scale, the company said. Bubbies has grown from a scoop shop on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, where it was founded in 1985, to providing mochi ice cream products and expanding into a new category with its 2025 launch of Mini Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches.

Jeff Stites, CEO of Bubbies Ice Cream, said the company was “thrilled to join” Marubeni’s portfolio, and that the new parent company has the right mix of resources and expertise needed to unlock and capitalize on the brand’s long-term growth potential. Bubbies products currently are sold in natural, grocery, club and mass channels, as well as select international regions.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.