(Ambrosio’s note:  Welcome to this week’s edition of Fro-Yo Files, an exclusive bonus series for Platinum subscribers of Franchise Chatter. Today’s post is the first of three parts.  Stay tuned for Part 2 to be posted tomorrow and Part 3 on Thursday.)

Fro-Yo Files: Interview with Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Multi-Unit Franchisee Jeremiah Sizemore

When 30-year-old Jeremiah Sizemore and his two long-time friends sought investors for their first Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt franchise, they knew they were taking a risk. What they didn’t know was just how well that risk might pay off. Just two years later, Sizemore and his buddies – Bryce Anderson and Evan Morris – are at the helm of nine Orange Leaf locations with three in construction. Not only that, the trio is having the time of their lives working together doing what they love — making delicious frozen yogurt for their Kentucky customers.

“My friends and I went to high school together. We always talked about how one day we would go into business together,” said Sizemore, a Samford University graduate. “For years, we were on the lookout for a product we really loved, one we felt others would love as much as we did. Over the years, I visited the West coast several times and would always go to Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt. Later on, I loved the self-serve concept when I first saw it at Yogurtland and thought it would do well in the South. I talked to my friends and we decided to give it a go.”

What Self-Serve Yogurt is all About

The premise behind the self-serve frozen yogurt concept is that customers get to customize their own fro-yo creation. Patrons get their own cup and create whatever yummy treat they wish, choosing from 16 different flavors of frozen yogurt and a smorgasbord of toppings. These include everything from Fruity Pebbles to candy bar crumbles. When they check out, they are charged by the ounce, which means a serving can cost as little as two dollars.

“If you want to go crazy, you can pile on the toppings and spend eight dollars,” jokes Sizemore. “There are no constraints. That’s the beauty of the self-serve concept. You get to customize your order to your own specific and unique taste. You can be as conservative as you want, or you can heap on as much as you like.”

Conducting Research, a Vital Step in Choosing the Right Franchise

According to Sizemore, he and his friends researched several dozen fro-yo franchises before they honed in on Orange Leaf. Although they considered many different possibilities and visited a number of brands, when they came across Orange Leaf, they knew they had found the opportunity that was right for them. They loved the color scheme, the clean design of the brand, and the overall feel of the franchise.

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