Edible Arrangements Opens 1000th Location

WALLINGFORD, Conn., April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Dream is alive and well. Just ask Edible Arrangements International, LLC founders Tariq and Kamran Farid.

Today, the brothers who emigrated with their family from Pakistan as youths, opened their 1000th location in Cranston, R.I.

"It's the 'American dream,'" says Tariq, who founded the company as a teenager and serves as the company's CEO. "Every time I think about it, I get a bit emotional. I remember my grandparents, who were immigrants and told us about the possibilities in America. I think about how hard my parents worked. This is the American Dream come true."

"My hair stands on my arms when I consider what we and our franchisees have done," adds Kamran, Tariq's younger brother and COO. "I have traveled the world, and I can tell you that only in America could we have done this."

Growing up as immigrants, Tariq and Kamran watched their father work three jobs to support the family. By his mid-teens, Tariq was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and while still in high school opened a flower shop. With Kamran and family members helping out in the store, one flower shop bloomed into four.

In the process, they realized that existing software didn't meet their needs and created a customized program to organize delivery and other aspects of the business. That idea has since evolved into Netsolace, Inc., a company that sells software to franchise companies.

Tariq's next venture changed their world and the gift industry forever. It was an inventive take on flower bouquets made of carefully sculpted fresh-fruit. Tariq and Kamran launched Edible Arrangements from an East Haven, Conn., storefront in 1999 and two years later opened their first franchise.

With Tariq serving as the visionary and Kamran putting the ideas into practice, the brothers have built Edible Arrangements into the undisputed leader in hand-sculpted, fresh-fruit arrangements.

"When we opened the first store we never expected it would grow like this," says Tariq. "To open our 1000th store is confirmation that all our hard work has been rewarded."

About Edible Arrangements

With over 1100 locations open or under development worldwide, Edible Arrangements International, LLC. is the leading purveyor of artistically designed, fresh fruit arrangements. More information about Edible Arrangements is available at 888-727-4258 or online at www.eafranchise.com.

SOURCE Edible Arrangements