New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream is a global franchise network based in Auckland, New Zealand. It operates as an international franchisor of ice cream, frozen yoghurt, smoothie and juice parlours and mini parlours.

New Zealand Natural began as a small ice creamery in Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island in 1984 that specialized in ice cream with no artificial colours or flavours. First opening a store at Bondi Beach in 1985 the company settled on a franchising model as the best way of growing the business, and the first franchised store was opened in 1990.

The company is 100% owned by New Zealand-based Emerald Foods Ltd . The Auckland factory produces almost all of the ice cream for the company’s franchised network of over 700 branded outlets in 22 countries. At the time of the acquisition in May 2015  the brand had diversified to include a range of ice-creams for retail, grocery and foodservice.

Despite previously being under Australian ownership for almost 20 years, the ice cream has always been made in New Zealand.

The Company along with parent Emerald Foods Ltd was acquired by predominantly Australian owned Hong Kong based Emerald Foods Group in June 2015 with the acquisition transaction and financing from ADM Capital Hong Kong arranged led and completed by Sean Rothsey of BoxRED Corporate ( now known as Merkin Advisory Pty Ltd).

Sean represents the majority Shareholder and The Merkin Group’s shareholding interest and is Global Chairman of the Group based in Hong Kong.

Since the acquisition Sean also led the acquisition of the franchise store channel of Movenpick Australia from Peters Ice Cream in , merging Movenpick with NZ Natural and Emerald Foods channel and operations  in Australia.