Gourmet ice-cream franchiser Cold Stone Creamery signed a deal with Target Corp. to open four test stores inside the discounter's locations by year's end, according to news reports.

Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Cold Stone has been experimenting with non-traditional locations including the Phoenix Suns' US Airways Center and Chase Field where the Arizona Diamondbacks games. Airports and amusement parks also are in its sites.

Of course, Target isn't shy about inviting in upmarket foodservice partners. Many of its locations include a Starbuck's cafe.

With Target once again attempting to put a more upscale spin on its food assortment, expanded in a recent discount store design and critical to supercenters, and developing gourmet private label products, the association with Starbuck's and Cold Stone has the potential to help it attain the edibles positioning to which it aspires.

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Stock %Chg Industry Mkt Cap Target Corporation $50.21 +1.05% Department & Discount $40.8B Quote data as of: 03/31/2008 12:10 PM