BACKIT’S TIME TO COOL OFF THIS SUMMER AS PANINI AMERICA AND KONA ICE TEAM UP FOR SPECIAL PANINI COLOR BLAST FLAVOR
New Offering Helps Celebrate The “Summer of Soccer”
Irving, TX – May 19, 2026 – We are all getting ready for summer, and this year the fun includes the world’s best soccer players and teams coming together across North America for the sport’s marquee event.
It also means a colorful way to keep cool.
Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, is partnering with Kona Ice, the nation’s largest mobile food truck franchise, on a special-edition Panini Color Blast flavor that will be available nationwide this summer.
Color Blast has been one of Panini’s most sought-after and enduring inserts across their trading card product lines, with cards featuring vibrant, striking colors and unique designs. The Panini Color Blast flavor combines three of Kona Ice’s most popular – Monster Mango, Tiger’s Blood, and Blue Raspberry – into a sweet treat for people to enjoy all summer long.
“The Panini Color Blast flavor is delicious, and we hope that people will really enjoy it during this summer of soccer. When working with the Kona Ice team we wanted to not only make sure that the color mix was representative of our iconic Color Blast cards – but also would deliver a unique flavor palate to consumers,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations at Panini America. “We’re proud to be partnering with the team at Kona Ice on this fun and compelling extension of our dynamic Color Blast trading cards.”
“Kona Ice has always been about creating moments that people remember, and that’s exactly the kind of company we wanted to build this with,” said Tony Lamb, CEO and Founder of Kona Ice. “Panini has spent decades making fans feel connected to the sports they love. This summer, with the whole world watching soccer, we get to be part of that experience. The Color Blast flavor is bold, fun, and we think people are going to love it.”
About Panini America
Panini America is a subsidiary of The Panini Group, established over 60 years ago in Modena, Italy with subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for WNBA, WNBAPA, NASCAR, FIFA, the NWSL and NWSLPA, Unrivaled, LIV Golf, the Professional Fighters League, College, Disney, and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini is also the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Elite 11 and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
Panini has distribution channels in more than 150 countries and employs a staff of over 1,200. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or
http://blog.paniniamerica.net/. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
About Kona Ice
Founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice launched its first Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV) in Florence, Kentucky. Offering a unique combination of cleanliness, friendliness, and a one-of-a-kind experience, the self-serve Flavorwave™ features the opportunity to create your very own shaved ice while enjoying the soothing sights and sounds of the tropics, all while giving back to each and every community Kona Ice serves. Since its inception, Kona Ice has given more than $250 million back to neighborhood schools, organizations, and teams. Today, Kona Ice has grown to over 1,900 trucks and nearly 3,000 points of sale that serve all 50 states across the country. Kona Ice has been named one of the top eight franchises in the United States by TheStreet.com, ranked on Entrepreneur’s “Fastest-Growing” franchises list multiple years in a row, and has earned many other industry, local, and nationwide awards.
For more information about booking Kona Ice for a fundraiser or event, visit www.kona-ice.com. To learn more about available franchise opportunities, visit www.ownakona.com.
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CONTACTS:
Taylor Strategy
