"This is a big…opportunity designed to suit regional and master franchising." Seeking growth in emerging markets and their burgeoning middle class, Baskin-Robbins has a presence in more than 50 countries outside the U.S. including India, China and Russia. The South African ice-cream market will be worth about $339 million this year, according to research company Datamonitor, the report said. Ola South Africa, a division of Unilever, and Dairymaid-Nestlé have the biggest market share in South African ice-cream. Häagen-Dazs has five stores in South Africa and its ice creams are sold at retailers. Nasdaq-listed Dunkin' Brands is in the process of recruiting franchisee partners to develop the Baskin-Robbins brand in South Africa. "We will be very involved from an operations, training, supply chain and field perspective," Vitaro said.