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There’s no denying that the frozen yogurt franchise category is the flavor of the moment. I don’t know when this love affair will end, but for now, interest in anything related to fro-yo franchises is intensifying. I’d like to offer a special treat to my regular and new readers by ranking the top frozen yogurt franchises of 2011 and sharing some highlights from some of my most popular blog posts to date. As you can tell, I have a bias in favor of the self-serve model because of the lower labor costs and its popularity among consumers.
If there are any frozen yogurt franchises under my radar that you’d like to be the subject of a future blog post, leave a comment or send me an email and I will reach out to the companies mentioned. In the meantime, enjoy my selection of the best frozen yogurt franchises of 2011. (By the way, if you’re into lists like I am, check out my most popular blog post to date, Franchise Chatter’s 10 Franchises with the Best Business Models, and 1 with Possibly THE Worst, June 26, 2011)
1. Yogurtland
Why they made the list:
“I personally think the flavors offered at Yogurtland are unique and worth a special trip. The variety of interesting flavors was just dizzying. They had Taro, Toasted Coconut, Red Velvet Cupcake Batter, Pecans & Pralines, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Pie and so much more. There was also an amazing array of toppings, but I decided to skip those because I wanted to savor the actual flavors of the yogurt. I couldn’t decide which flavors to try, so I ended up with a pretty delicious mess. But I was in heaven with every bite.” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, Should I Invest in a Yogurtland Franchise, April 14, 2011)
“Yogurtland is the original self-serve model. We created and defined the self-serve experience. Our emphasis on R&D and product development is one of our key points of differentiation. Nearly all of our competitors are using the same frozen yogurt provided by one or two sources. Each of our flavors is formulated in-house by a tremendous group of R&D and Product Development specialists.” (Larry Sidoti, VP of Development and Operations for Yogurtland, Franchise Chatter Exclusive: Q&A with Larry Sidoti, Yogurtland’s VP of Development and Operations, June 13, 2011)
2. Menchie’s
Why they made the list: 
“What I admire most about Menchie’s is their emphasis on providing a great customer experience and creating a family-friendly environment. The Menchie’s logo makes it very clear that they cater to families with young children — and they seem to be very successful at it. From all the pictures I’ve seen, their stores are like magnets for kids and teenagers — and their parents don’t seem to mind one bit! It seems like a place where the entire family can enjoy.” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, What Sets Menchie’s Apart from Other Frozen Yogurt Franchises, May 6, 2011)
“I like to say that we at Menchie’s ‘sell smiles’ via frozen yogurt. We offer such a unique environment that when people come by, they don’t just get a delicious product, they get a full 360 degree experience. It’s a multi-layered formula that provides our customers with friendly service, a fantastic product, a family-friendly environment, and a memorable experience. While our competitors focus solely on the food, we focus on the experience – which, of course, also means having great food and service. But it’s really the complete experience that sets us apart.” (Amit Kleinberger, CEO of Menchies, Exclusive Interview with Amit Kleinberger, CEO of Menchie’s, One of the Fastest Growing Frozen Yogurt Franchises in the World, May 23, 2011)
“Menchie’s recently launched a new platform of toys to increase customer loyalty among families with young kids. With each cup of frozen yogurt purchased, Menchie’s will offer customers a free Sweet Friend collectible toy. I think it’s very smart for Menchie’s to focus their marketing efforts on families because no other frozen yogurt franchise has explicitly gone after this market, even though the product appeals especially to kids and teenagers. This new platform of toys will distinguish Menchie’s from the competition and, if executed properly, will make them the go-to frozen yogurt brand for families.” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Franchise Goes After Families with Young Kids, and Customers Looking for Unique Flavors, July 26, 2011)
3. TCBY (The Country’s Best Yogurt)
Why they made the list:
“TCBY is one of the original and most recognized brands in the frozen yogurt category. TCBY has been a frozen yogurt innovator since their first shop opened in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981. In 2010, TCBY introduced a new self-serve platform and a contemporary look that appeals to customers of all ages.” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, TCBY Joins the Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Bandwagon with Revamped Store Design and Identity, August 12, 2011)
“This new design has not only surged interest for new franchisees, but existing ones as well. Current franchisees understand that the self-serve model is forward-thinking and will serve their customers well in their local markets. We have had several franchisees express interest in not only expanding their portfolios, but also in converting some of their existing units to self-serve. We currently have six self-serve locations in development and are projecting to open an additional 100 by the end of 2011.” (Rob Street, Senior VP of Development at TCBY, TCBY Joins the Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Bandwagon with Revamped Store Design and Identity, August 12, 2011)
4. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Why they made the list: 
“The franchise fee for a single Orange Leaf location is $12,000 (about a third of the $35,000 franchise fee for Yogurtland and $40,000 for Menchie’s). Orange Leaf’s monthly royalty is 3% of gross sales (half of the 6% royalty fee charged by Yogurtland and Menchie’s) and their monthly marketing fee is 0.5% of gross sales (a quarter of Menchie’s and Yogurtland’s marketing fee of 2% ).” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, Looking for a Cheaper Alternative to a Menchie’s or Yogurtland Franchise? Consider the Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Franchise Opportunity, August 7, 2011)
“It does a lot of good if we can bring in a franchisee, put a system in place where they can be successful and go do another store, and another store, and another store — not where we burden them with a fee that prevents them from being able to reinvest their capital and help us grow the company.” (Reese Travis, CEO and part-owner of Orange Leaf, Looking for a Cheaper Alternative to a Menchie’s or Yogurtland Franchise? Consider the Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Franchise Opportunity, August 7, 2011)
And a Few Non-Yogurt Frozen Treat Franchises Worth Mentioning
1. Tasti D-Lite
Why they deserve a special mention:
“Tasti D-Lite is a soft-serve, dairy-based frozen dessert that is significantly lower in calories, fat, and carbohydrates than ice cream and much lower in sugar than frozen yogurt. It’s made from natural ingredients with virtually no preservatives added. It’s not ice cream because it does not have the high butterfat or total solids content to be called ice cream. And it’s not frozen yogurt because it doesn’t contain active yogurt bacteria. Relative to ice cream and frozen yogurt, Tasti D-Lite is a guilt-free treat. In a 4 fl. oz. serving, most Tasti flavors contain 70 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 13 grams or less of carbs, and 2 grams of protein. They are currently testing a self-serve format in Las Vegas.” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, Too Many Frozen Yogurt Franchises in Your City? Consider Tasti D-Lite, a Low Calorie Frozen Dessert Franchise, July 27, 2011)
2. Starfruit Cafe
Why they deserve a special mention:
“According to the company, a Starfruit Cafe is better than a typical frozen yogurt shop because its entire selection of lowfat smoothies, frozen treats and parfaits are made with Lifeway Kefir, which packs up to four times the probiotics of yogurt. The secret to Starfruit’s health-boosting power is the 10 live probiotic cultures found in Lifeway Kefir, a creamy “miracle drink” that serves as the base of its products (Yogurt typically contains just two or three probiotics). There are currently 4 Starfruit Cafe retail stores — all in the city of Chicago — and they will be unveiling a mobile food truck specially designed to deliver Chicagoans their frozen treats.” (The Franchise Chatter Blog, Looking for Something Healthier than Frozen Yogurt, but Just as Delicious? Check Out the Starfruit Cafe Franchise (Frozen Treats, Smoothies), August 11, 2011)
3. Cold Stone Creamery
Why they deserve a special mention:
“The new line of low-calorie, low-fat, probiotic frozen yogurt was introduced in select locations in January 2011, and was apparently well received enough to justify a nationwide rollout. Cold Stone’s frozen yogurt will be available alongside their super-premium ice cream to offer guests more options for creating the brand’s signature creations with fruit, nuts, and candy mix-ins. The brand also launched this past January a new retail format called the Cold Stone Creamery Yogurt Bar — a soft-serve, self-service frozen yogurt concept with seven current locations. Additional stores are in design and construction. (The Franchise Chatter Blog, Cold Stone Creamery Joins the Frozen Yogurt Bandwagon with the Nationwide Rollout of Its Own Frozen Yogurt Line. Next Up: Cold Stone Creamery Yogurt Bars, July 28, 2011)
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Enjoyed your article. We are doing research to find the right niche for us. What about Spoon Me and Red Mango?
Hi Liz,
Thank you for your comment. Red Mango has struggled in recent years because of the sudden popularity of the self-serve format. Now, they’re playing catch up as they roll out their own self-serve stores, but I wouldn’t count them out just yet. After all, they are one of those responsible for the resurgence of frozen yogurt in America in the last few years. I’m not familiar with Spoon Me (thank you for bringing the company to my attention), but I’ll dig a little deeper to see what I can find. I’ll write about them in a future blog post.
In case you haven’t read them yet, please check out my series of posts on the FDDs of Yogurtland, Menchie’s, Orange Leaf, Pinkberry, Red Mango, and Nubi.
If there’s anything else about frozen yogurt franchises that you’d like to know more about, please let me know. I’ll reach out to my contacts in the industry to get you the answers. Thanks for supporting my blog.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
I cannot except anything you say as credible. Cold Stone Creamery? Have ya seen CNBC’s documentary? Have you seen the SBA loan failure rates on CSC?
What about Pinkberry? That is OUR absolute favorite FroYo place!
Thank you for your question and comment. Pinkberry is certainly one of the most well recognized brands in the industry. My concern is the number of store closures in recent years (2 in 2008, 1 in 2009, and 5 in 2010). In addition, 8 stores were reacquired by the franchisor and 1 franchise was terminated in 2010. The growing competition from self-serve frozen yogurt stores may have something to do with this. But this is just my personal opinion. I’m sure others will have different, and equally valid, points of view. Thanks for dropping by, Denise!
I have worked at an Orange Leaf, and would like for all future franchisees to know this: STAY AWAY. During my time there, we got a new manager and she was only trained for three days. This was far from adequate. She was left with little knowledge of how to run the store, and had to figure out almost everything by herself.
Also, when we got a new cash register system, our loyalty cards stopped working. Our customers went without a loyalty card for months, and our regional manager wouldn’t let us make any sort off punch card or alternate reward system.
Our regional manager NEVER answered his phone. At one point, I needed a copy of my W-2. My manager repeatedly asked him for a couple of months for it. Then, when we got a new manager, she also asked him multiple times. I finally called the corporate office and had to dial a coworker’s extension in order to ask them for his cell phone number. It took leaving multiple messages on his cell phone to FINALLY get my W-2. I found this extremely unprofessional.
Even though I worked for a corporate store, in my experience, Orange Leaf would not be a good store to invest even $12,000 in to start a franchise. They lack professionalism, basic knowledge of running a business, and overall character.
Am I offended that TCBY didn’t make the numero uno slot on the list? No, but somewhat disappointed. As a self-serve TCBY franchisee, I’m amazed by the number of self-serve frozen yogurt shops opening across the country. It’s endless. When is it going to stop? I think winter 2011-2012 will tell a lot about the future of the industry, especially for those shops based in colder climate, major metropolitan areas. Eventually, there will be a lot of carnage. No doubt. Ebay will be the “go to spot” to pick up some good deals on used frozen yogurt machines. All the “mom and pops” will not survive. No way. Aside from that, the independents just don’t have access to the greatest product in the country. TCBY has been setting the bar for frozen yogurt for over 30 years, and it shows. They’re product is by far the creamiest, tastiest, and most healthy. None of that powder-based, icy product with non-palatable aftertaste. IMHO, Yogurtland has risen to the top because of the “new” name and the price per ounce. Since TCBY took a backseat for a number of years; Yogurtland popped up out of nowhere and kinda took charge. Many people had forgotten about the TCBY name and moved on I guess. Well, TCBY is back. There is a new sheriff in town. TCBY pretty much created the frozen yogurt industry back in 1981, and now, they must follow everyone else(i.e. self serve model). Go figure. TCBY’s new store design is amazing. It’s bright, cheerful and inviting. The layout is superb. None of that cramped feeling you get a lot at self-serve shops these days. The customer service is first class. TCBY prides themselves on A+ customer service. TCBY has a really bright future ahead, regardless of the competition’s expansion. TCBY is a first class operation. I wouldn’t have invested in a company with a weak and small track record and inferior product. 30 years is nothing to mess around with.
Hi Rick,
Thanks for sharing your insider perspectives on TCBY! I share your concerns about overexpansion and saturation in this space, and I agree with you that going with a top brand is the best way to survive the inevitable shakeout. Let’s revisit this list in 2012. Those who do best in the year ahead will probably be the long term winners in this category. Please keep us posted on the latest development in froyo land from your vantage point as a current franchisee. Thanks again, Rick, and all the best to you.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
I have another one for you. “Cups” in Clifton, NJ. More of an experience, but I’ve learned that they use YoCream frozen yogurt which any of the good ones do. Their take is atmosphere; with flat screen tv’s, pop music playing, fun vibrant colors and sitting areas like that of a club scene. TCBY has always been my favorite, but I’m thinking of franchising a CUPS. TCBY is like White Castle to me though, when you see a TCBY by me in North Jersey, you have to stop. TCBY was here when I was a kid, left and is now back. Not sure yet about CUPS because it is new, but we’ll see. Only one store with more going up now, but backed by a corporation with over 100 franchises in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The Briad Group is the corporation that started CUPS and they started as an ice cream franchisee and now have a huge portfolio of diverse brands. I don’t work for them, I just did my due diligence and thought I’d share what I learned. I have some good questions now from reading posts like this and all the comments and searching the web, when I meet the franchise manager of CUPS. In the end, if you are going to stand out from the competition you better be in the public eye, running promotions on facebook, twitter, and social media of all kind. Employ customers to share their experiences at your establishment online to win something, etc. People like to have to control and share and this is why social media took off and now self serve yogurt. I wonder what’s next.
Hi Scott,
Thank you for telling us about Cups. I don’t know enough about the company yet, but I was impressed with the YouTube video they put together.
http://youtu.be/aKCSOiGClNo
Seems like a fun place that’s trying to cater to adults as well. With a slogan like “Cups, Frozen Yogurt That’s Hot” and T-shirts that say “Size Matters, Fill Your Cup,” looks like they’re trying to position themselves differently from other fro-yo chains that cater primarily to kids. Remains to be seen if they can grow beyond New Jersey, but Cups is a company worth keeping an eye on.
Thanks, Scott.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Is yogurt in love’s frozen yogurt a genuine franchise? You did not mention them amongst your frozen yogurt franchises
Hi there,
I’d never heard of Yogurt in Love before. When I visited their website, there is no mention of how many franchise units they have currently. I try to stick with brands that have a national reputation and reach. But I will keep an eye out for this franchise. Thanks for bringing Yogurt in Love to my attention.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Thanks alot for this info
I’m very surprised there’s no mention of Pink Berry
Hi Fred,
Thanks for dropping in. I’ve written about Pinkberry in other posts, but they didn’t make my list for 2011 because I’m concerned that their format has been eclipsed by the more popular self-serve variety. They’ve suffered from store closures in the past few years and I’m worried that this trend will continue. But I do respect the company for being one of the pioneers in this category. And I’m not counting them out in 2012.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Hi. Do you have a list of very good frozen yogurt mix suppliers? And which one do you think is better? Liquid mix or powder mix? Thanks
Hi,
Thank you for visiting! I can’t claim to be an authority on the subject of frozen yogurt suppliers, but a company that has been mentioned several times as a top brand is YoCream (www.youcream.com), although I don’t have any personal knowledge about this. Good luck with your research and let me know what you discover.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Hi, what about Yogen Fruz? I am considering them for my new Frozen Yogurt shop to be opened in the Middle East. What do you think? Seems they are strong (having 1200 stores world wide). Please advise. Thanks,
Hi Ali,
I’ve been trying to land an interview with the executive team at Yogen Fruz since I started the blog. After exchanging a couple emails with two top execs at the company, nothing has come out of it. Feel free to draw your own conclusion from that anecdote if you wish.
What I like about Yogen Fruz is that they have a small footprint that can fit in mall locations, unlike the self-serve concepts which require a lot more space and usually end up in strip malls. The product line of Yogen Fruz is pretty limited — that can be a good thing for franchisees because of lower input costs and more streamlined operations. But when the flashier self-serve brands come to town, customers seem to be drawn to the fun, interactive format. So I see both strengths and weaknesses in the Yogen Fruz model. I guess it boils down to the specific market in the Middle East — how many frozen yogurt brands are competing in the space? does the market prefer a self-serve format or made-to-order format? how expensive is mall space? etc.
Is there any specific reason why you are most interested in Yogen Fruz? You probably looked into other brands as well and I’d love to hear why Yogen Fruz is your top choice.
Thanks for dropping in.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Another franchise worth looking at is “CherryBerry” based out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. This franchise is rapidly growing in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, and many others.
Thanks for the tip, Eric! I will look into CherryBerry. Should be interesting for readers of Franchise Chatter.
Hi i’m hoping to open a franchise in Australia this year and was wondering what your opinions on that were? I am very interested in Orange Leaf due to the low royalty and initial costs, but as I’m opening internationally and there’s lots of negative feedback about their management and support networks, do you think this may not be the best option? Would opening a TCBY store, although more expensive, be a better long term investment? Just looking for some advice from experts in the field. Thanks.
Hi Natasha,
That’s a very interesting question. Many franchise companies expand to other countries through master franchisees, who have purchased the right to franchise the concept within their own territories. So if you are looking to open just one location (instead of buying the right to franchise the concept in Australia), you may have to deal with a local master franchisee. I don’t know if either Orange Leaf or TCBY works this way, but it’s worth inquiring how each international franchise organization is set up. There are obvious advantages to working with someone local (hopefully, an experienced entrepreneur who knows the local market) versus relying on support from a company that’s based in the U.S.
Also, since TCBY now offers a self-serve option, Orange Leaf and TCBY’s offerings are pretty much interchangeable. The one with stronger brand recognition in your country will have the edge, all things being equal. But if there is a big difference in initial investment, I wouldn’t rule out the cheaper option. It really boils down to the competitive environment for frozen yogurt shops in Australia, and which brand you think will dominate over the long term.
Perhaps others with more direct experience on this matter can chime in.
Thanks for dropping by, Natasha, and good luck with your research!
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Hi Natasha….
Why franchise and give a percentage of your hard earned cash to someone else?
Do your research on machines (JUST BUY TAYLOR!), suppliers for toppings and yoghurt mix. A little hard work early makes life easy going forward, its not hard to develop your own SOP’s for staff etc.
Location is a big one though, so choose carefully and do your market research for areas you have in mind.
Where are you starting up by the way?
There are a couple of Tutti Frutti francises in Oz (perth and melborne).
Yo Get IT in melborne now have 3 stores after only 2 years.
All the other shops in Perth are non franchise.
Our shop has been open for 13 month now and isnt doing too bad at all.
I can point you in the direction of a liquid mix supplier if you are interested.
If you are in Melborne it may be worth chatting to the guys at YO GET IT.
Hi Steve,
I am also looking at getting into the Australian market , i also agree that a little hard work and research can go a long way instead of just handing your money over to a franchisor, although as anonymous commented below they can be useful during the development stages.
As the fro -yo business is only sort of taking off in Australia it is hard to find good information about quality products available in Australia and in particular Australian producers of these products.
I am still in the research and development stage of my business plan and would love to be able to speak to someone who has been through this process and who may have any usefull hints. I actually lived in Perth for a few years a while back and it was a shame your store was not open then as i was often at Hillarys.
What do you know about Berripop?
Unfortunately, absolutely nothing
Let me check out their website.
@ Steve- There are many good reasons to franchise, number one reason being lack of business background and experience. A good franchisor will teach you the ins and outs of the business, and literally hold your hand through the pre-development, development, training, real estate, pre-construction, construction, and pre-opening processes so forth and so on. Yes, you pay for it, but that’s one part of being a franchisee. With a really good franchise you get the premium goods(i.e. product), decor, use of logo, brand image, name, longevity, advertising and marketing expertise etc,etc.
@ BunmiAkinyemi- Here is a strong list of yogurt suppliers: Yo Cream; PreGel; Yoki Bliss; Honey Hill Farms; YoFlavor; “Only 8”; YoFreeze. Yoki Bliss and Honey Hill Farms are the best on the list. Everyone and their mother uses YoCream and PreGel which is why almost every frozen yogurt shop in America tastes the same. Liquid Mix is hands down the way to go. Bar none.
What do you know about Yofresh yogut cafe ? Is this worth to own this franchise ?
(http://yofreshyogurtcafe.com)
@san- What irks me is that they have only SIX open stores to date. Be very very wary of so called “franchisors” that have such few stores and want to franchise the concept. They’re usually out to make a quick buck. Experience is key. I don’t see any here. When I click on “About us” on the main website of a franchised yogurt shop, and there is no pertinent, personal and DETAILED information listed about the operation itself, I usually just laugh and move on. i.e. Where did it start? When? How? Management names and experience?
Any thoughts on Yogurtini?
Hi Michelle,
Sorry, but I don’t know anything about Yogurtini, although I have read the name before. Let me dig a little further and see what I can find.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Great site and information. I’ve been doing extensive research on several franchisors. Even with FDD review, some line items are difficult to determine when trying to establish the initial capital investment from what they claim on their web sites. What do you need “actual” cash v. what can be financed? i.e – Yogurtland’s average for equipment and fixtures is $166,000. Do the yogurt machine companies offer financing, Also, having been in the commercial real estate business for over 20 years . . . architect plans seem to average about $11k. This seems high – do you typically use the franchisors architect or retain your own. Same Q for contractor and going to bid. Oh, just one other Q: Being an owner of commercial property/landlord – the Yogurtland initial expense – Item 7:Real Estate Rent and deposit needs clarification (3k – 20k). Using an example of a typical leasing deal in a good market location: Rent @ 4,000/mo and security of 3/ms = 60k and there is usually an additional figure for Common Area Maintenance:CAM. Also, most commercial leases have annual adjustments of 3 – 5%. Can you shed some light on this very unrealistic rent projection.
Hi Frank,
Great questions! I don’t have any personal knowledge of how things work at Yogurtland, so I can only speak from my own personal experience as a franchisee of The UPS Store.
1. It’s quite possible that you can get equipment financing either through the franchisor or the vendor. I certainly did for everything that I could get in-house financing for, just to reduce my initial investment.
2. The franchisor will usually recommend an architect and contractor that they’ve worked with before. In my case, I just went with the recommended professionals because my goal was to get my store up and running ASAP (I only received one month of free rent from my landlord). I didn’t want to take the risk of choosing someone without any experience building out UPS Stores. In the case of Yogurtland, they offer 3 levels of support when it comes to build-out, with varying fees due to the franchisor. The cheapest option will probably allow you to choose your own architect or contractor, but it’s best to check with the franchisor first.
3. I checked Yogurtland’s FDD. The estimate of $3,000 to $20,000 covers “rent for approximately 3 months, security deposit, and last month’s rent.” So that would total 5 months of rent. The high end of the range is $20,000 — when divided by 5 comes out to $4,000 a month in rent. This is merely an estimate but it doesn’t sound unreasonable to me, although the monthly rent could be significantly higher in some markets like San Francisco. (In my case, my first check to the landlord covered the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and one month’s rent as security deposit.) The estimate does not take into account Common Area Maintenance, and the annual escalation clause won’t apply until the end of the first year, so it’s usually not included under the initial investment section.
Hope this helps. Maybe someone with more direct information could shed more light on this?
Best regards,
Ambrosio
I think starting a frozen yogurt franchise just might be a great option if you are craving ice cream, but want something a little healthier. Frozen yogurt is similar to ice cream in the sense that the textures and flavors are a lot alike. While sherbet and ice cream have been around for quite some time, frozen yogurt seems to be making a nice entrance to the world of frozen confections.
Great article. My husband and I want to open a shop in Dominican Rep. We want to target kids. Beside menchies what good alternativa you know, choices with a character and things like that? What do you think about sweet frog?
Thanks, Indhira! Frozen yogurt places tend to be kid magnets, so even if the franchise doesn’t specifically target kids in its marketing materials, families with young kids will still be the predominant customer base. Menchie’s is the most aggressive in going after the kids’ market, with their mascot and free collectible toys. But other fro yo brands can attract the family market just as well. Not familiar with Sweet Frog though.
What about the GOLDEN SPOON? They have been around for 25+ years selling the best tasting frozen yogurt here in Orange County Ca! Everyone knows they have the best product, service and prices too!
Hi Lesley,
A franchise like Golden Spoon that has been around for over 25 years is certainly doing a lot of things right! Golden Spoon, along with TCBY, belongs to the first wave of frozen yogurt brands that originated in the 1980′s. For some reason, Golden Spoon isn’t generating as much excitement as the major players in this current wave. But I would certainly choose Golden Spoon over the dozens of “me-too” self-serve frozen yogurt franchises that have been popping up all over.
I like Golden Spoon’s weightless pricing scheme, where customers can fill a small ($3), medium ($4), or large ($5) cup with as much frozen yogurt and toppings that can fit, regardless of weight. That’s something unique to Golden Spoon right now.
Are their stores generating as much business as those of Yogurtland, Menchie’s, Orange Leaf, and TCBY? I guess that’s the key question. They may serve the best product but if they are not resonating with today’s consumers, then more work needs to be done to get their message out there.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Hi Ambrosio, Indhira again. Can you check sweet frog web page and give your opinion. I like their image but they are small and only in a few states. The web pages has around 90 opening caming and around 60 open. Most of the ones open are on the Virginia, where they started. I am afraid that they may desapear when competing with bigger brands. Or is that a size of a company that will endure? Please give your opinion about their future, their image and market posicion
Hi Indhira,
Okay, I will visit their website and see what jumps out at me. To be honest, I’d never heard of Sweet Frog before, but there are just so many smaller frozen yogurt franchises out there that it’s hard to keep track. What I want to see is something unique in their concept, branding, or execution. Been swamped with tasks this past week, but will work on this soon!
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Anyone check out http://www.YoGoFactory.com?
Very nice product, store, experience and social and web presence with an extremely fast growth rate.
Hello Ambrosio, remember asking about yoghurt mix and you mentioned Yocream. Well I think they are a very good company and I was opportune to attend their Yocream University training. Learnt a lot about the frozen yoghurt industry and starting a yoghurt shop. It’s a good training for anyone who wants to start a yoghurt shop. I would like to ask if you know anything about Forte Frozen yoghurt machine? Stumbled upon them online and they sell machines that are a lot cheaper than the Electrofreeze and Taylors. Any info on them? Thanks
Hi Bunmi,
Great to hear your feedback on Yocream! I don’t know anything about Forte Frozen yogurt machines, but I’m currently working on an interview with Yogurt in Love, which offers traditional franchises, as well as a complete equipment package where the buyer can operate under their own brand (i.e. without having to operate as a Yogurt in Love franchisee). It’s a unique business model that I’m really curious about. Please check back within the next 2 weeks for my exclusive interview. Would love to hear what you think.
Best regards,
Ambrosio
Thanks Ambrosio. I would love the info on yogurt in love. They offered me a franchise that was too good to be true.
Hi Ambrosio,
I’m about to open an independent frozen yogurt shop and all your info here is great! First, true entrepreneurs can succeed in any market without a franchise. But I would like to know if you have any feedback on electrofreeze machines. I know you will be interviewing Yogurt in Love so please let me know how their program works.
Hi Ann,
Good luck with your new venture! That’s very exciting.
Yogurt in Love has 2 distinct business models: one is the traditional franchise model, and the other is an equipment package model. The interview will discuss both options and should be ready within the next 2 weeks. Please stay tuned for that.
I haven’t heard any feedback on Electrofreeze machines, unfortunately. I’ve been more focused on the franchise side of things.
All the best to you and your new venture, Ann!
Best regards,
Ambrosio