Red Mango is raising the bar of product innovation among frozen yogurt franchises. The company opened its first U.S. store in July 2007 in Los Angeles, and has since celebrated more than 140 store openings across the U.S. No longer just a full-service frozen yogurt concept, Red Mango now offers prospective franchisees multiple format options, including the trendier self-serve model, kiosks, and co-branded platforms.

Red Mango has also expanded its menu to include other meal options such as its all-natural made-to-order fruit and yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit smoothies, and the world’s first all-natural probiotic iced teas that are hand-shaken to order.  The company must be doing something right because it was named the number one smoothie and frozen yogurt chain in America in Zagat’s 2011 National Chain Restaurants Survey.

This fall and winter, Red Mango has upped the ante by introducing two new chocolate-based beverage lines, one cold and one hot.

The Hot Chocolate Chiller, a decadent yet healthy ice blended beverage, is made from a signature recipe that blends Ghirardelli chocolate and cocoa with Red Mango’s all-natural nonfat yogurt. Hot Chocolate Chillers are available in five varieties: Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate with Strawberries, Dark Chocolate with Banana, Dark Chocolate with Strawberries and Banana, and Peppermint Dark Chocolate.

The good news for weight watchers is that a regular 16-ounce serving is less than 300 calories, low in fat, rich in probiotics, and kosher.  Available throughout the fall and winter seasons, Hot Chocolate Chillers are also a good source of calcium, and contain antioxidants like Vitamins A & C, and those naturally found in cocoa.

More recently, Red Mango launched its first-ever hot beverage, the new Artisan Hot Chocolate, made with all-natural chocolate and nonfat milk, and infused with Ghirardelli premium cocoa. This indulgent rich chocolate drink is available in four flavors: Double Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate Truffle, Irish Chocolate Creme, and Chocolate Amaretto. The Artisan Hot Chocolate, available for a limited time at participating locations throughout the winter season, may be enjoyed with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Red Mango’s foray into chocolate-based beverages is a welcome development for an industry observer like me who is worried about saturation and lack of differentiation in the frozen yogurt space.  I’m hoping this will start a new trend of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking among the industry’s major players, who have shown a bit of complacency because of their widespread popularity among investors and consumers today. But frozen yogurt franchisors have to prepare for the day when they are no longer the flavor of the month.  With these recent product launches, Red Mango seems to be a few steps ahead of the pack.