This year froyo wars have shown no sign of slowing down, and in effort to stay fresh forzen yogurt shops have adopted a variety of tactics and gimmicks to deliver better goods.
While Red Mango is rolling out new flavors, Pinkberry is now providing delivery and curbside pickup in Los Angeles, New York and San Fransisco, plus new offerings to nudge summer sales, Pinkberry is offering bing cherries as a new summer topping ... It also has a yogurt fruit parfait and many new seasonal flavors in the works. Pinkberry’s yogurt is certainly more sour than that of Red Mango, but beyond that the distinctions become arcane, and often bogged down in calorie-counting, the odd flavors of sugar substitutes, and obscure health claims. (Red Mango boasts that there are more than 400 million live cultures in each gram; Yogurberry says that its yogurt has the lowest glycemic index on the block.)
Newsflash: A battle in the war between Red Mango and Pinkberry has finally been won — by Pinkberry. Two years ago, Red Mango moved in at 182 Bleecker, only 56 feet from an already-open Pinkberry at 179 Bleecker. The Red Mango had a back garden going for it, but a tipster tells us the location has succumbed, and the phone number is disconnected.
Foryo Wars Players
Early on, Red Mango and Pinkberry were the biggest players in Southern California. But other new brands began flooding the market in 2007 thru 2010. Below are the bigger players with multiple store locations.
Pinkberry - 73 locations. The company's success has led to the launching of several competitors including kiwiberri, fiore and many others. This emergence of competition is fueled in part by companies such as Cielo USA, which manufactures and distributes the Frozen Yogurt Mix to businesses aspiring to be the next Pinkberry. Some attribute the company's success to its appealing combination of low-sugar, low-fat cool dessert in a designer environment with Philippe Starck furniture and Le Klint lighting. Originally marketed as frozen yogurt, Pinkberry has recently faced complaints that its product does not meet the California Department of Food and Agriculture's definition of frozen yogurt because it does not contain the necessary amount of bacterial cultures per ounce. Many celebrities such as Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Skip Bayless, and Lil' Wayne are known to rave about Pinkberry.
Red Mango - 68 locations. Red Mango's frozen yogurt is offered in limited flavors, such as Original and Green Tea. In November 2008, Red Mango launched its first new flavor, Pomegranate by POM Wonderful. Currently, the flavor lineup consists of Original, Pomegranate, Tangomonium, and the new, limited-edition Cocoa flavor. A line of three Probiotic Iced Teas was also released in summer 2009. In 2009, Red Mango closed four stores around Los Angeles due to "poor real estate decisions" but will open approximately 40 new locations elsewhere across the country. Yul Kwon, winner of a season of the Survivor reality series, recently opened a Red Mango in Silicon Valley in downtown Palo Alto, and in Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose.
Yogen Fruz - 1,100 locations operating in more than 20 countries. Through company-owned, franchised, and non traditional partnerships, Yogen Früz is the largest franchisor and licensor of stores and other locations that serve primarily frozen yogurt. Ranked amongst the top 50 fastest growing franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine. "Celebrity spottings at Yogen Fruz - Stephanie Pratt, Eddie Cibrian, Dave Grohl", "The Hills TV star, Stephanie Pratt loves Yogen Fruz", President Bush enjoys Yogen Fruz frozen yogurt", "Paris Hilton loves Yogen Fruz frozen yogurt".
Cefiore - 26 locations. Best known for its tart and tangy original flavor, Cefiore includes an acaiberry flavor. The company has built following for its refreshing non-fat frozen yogurt flavors, including, but not limited to: Raspberry Pomegranate, Green Tea, Chocolate, Acaiberry by Sambazon and the newest flavor, Golden Cherry made with Sambazon, created with natural purees. Cefiore uses yogurt that is natural and contains live active cultures. Cefiore's flagship location was awarded "Best Frozen Treat 2007" by the Los Angeles Downtown News, beating out fellow frozen yogurt shops Pinkberry, Red Mango, and Yogurtberry. Cefiore is a frozen yogurt retailer chain with an international presence. The first store opened in 2006, and the company has expanded in California, 8 other states and in 4 countries.
YogurBerry - 15 locations. Yogurberry offers a genuinely authentic, super yummy, and surprisingly healthy alternative. Whether it's for a dessert, snack, pick-you-up, meal replacement, or just plain craving satisfier, Yogurberry has got you covered. Enjoy smoothies, authentic Korean frozen yogurt (aka Fro-Yo), & specialty coffee and tea orders. Door to Door Delivery and Call in orders for take out available. Happen to have vacation plans for the UAE? Well fear not you can still enjoy the delicious YogurBerry taste! Ranked #1 & Voted Best Frozen Yogurt in Atlanta, Yogurberry is doing some delicious things in a Yummy, Healthy, & Hip way!
Yogurtland - 28 locations. Yogurtland offers a tempting blend of choices, image and value – a unique mix that's arrived at the perfect time. Yogurtland features 16 different flavors at a time, 33 kinds of fresh fruits and toppings. Costs 30 to 39 cents per ounce. Yogurtland claimed to be the “first and only” self-serve frozen yogurt shop. "Chasing a general customer base is Yogurtland, which offers more sweet flavors and toppings — not just tart. The serve-yourself chain has 44 units now and expects to have 100 by year’s end, CEO Phillip Chang says. Among the flavors it will roll out this summer: raspberry cream and root beer float."
Orange Leaf - 32 locations. Orange Leaf is the fastest growing frozen yogurt chain in the USA with a successful track record. With our exceptional interior design and highest product quality, we were able to attract customers of all ages and rapidly expand our business in this downturn economy. Customers start with the cup of their choice in size, they can dispense any yogurt flavors, they can add any toppings they want, they can get any amount they desire, and then they simply pay by the weight. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt is promoting healthy dessert in a very fun way! Moreover, Orange Leaf is expanding rapidly. Orange Leaf frozen yogurt are targeting to open 100 new stores within a year.
Menchies - 45 locations. "Menchie's has become a hot spot for many celebrities like Miley, Megan Fox, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb, Amanda Bynes, Selena Gomez and many more...", "Nickelodeon's Parents' Pick 2009 for voting Menchie's the #1 Frozen Dessert in Los Angeles.", "Transformers star Shia LaBeouf stops by Menchie's Sherman Oaks for some froyo with a friend...", "Paris Hilton stops by Menchie's in Valley Village during the first episode in her new season of MTV's Paris Hilton's My New BFF.", "Selena Gomez and Taylor Lautner take a break from filming and show some Menchie's! love at our new Sherman Oaks location!"
Tuttimelon - 26 locations. Tuttimelon is a refreshing twist to frozen yogurt. Made with love, conscience, and joy. Found in 2007 in San Francisco, Tuttimelon is a very popular and fastest growing retailer of premium nonfat frozen yogurt and gourmet gelato & sorbet in the Bay Area. Tuttimelon is a refreshing twist to frozen yogurt. Made with love, conscience, and joy. Tuttimelon bursts with natural goodness. Nonfat and at only 30 calories per ounce, you won't feel guilty when you indulge your senses. Tuttimelon was created to provide health conscious food consumers a delicious, healthy frozen dessert treat. The founders made the decision to offer a variety of fruit and dry toppings with a healthy frozen yogurt concept at a reasonable price. Tuttimelon provides healthy frozen desserts derived from real yogurt, and other natural ingredients.