International frozen yogurt chain Yogen Früz has signed a master franchise agreement that will bring 10 stores to Georgia over the next few years. The agreement with Atlanta-based LB Yogurt LLC is the third U.S. development contract signed by Yogen Früz in the last month and the sixth since mid-2007, marking the first phase of an expansion into the U.S.
Three U.S. stores are now open in suburban Chicago’s Woodfield Shopping Center and Orland Square Mall as well as San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center, with up to 1,000 U.S. outlets planned by 2018. Master franchise agreements have been signed in the Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, all of Florida south of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, and the Virginia/Washington D.C. region.
The star of the Yogen Früz show is “Blend It,” a create-your-own combination of frozen yogurt and flash-frozen fresh fruit that is mixed in the company’s proprietary machines while customers watch. The stores offer a choice of low-fat, non-fat, or no-sugar-added yogurt, along with 16 varieties of fruit.
Customers also have a “Top It” option consisting of plain yogurt with a choice of 18 toppings from fruit to granola, carob chips, and Cap’n Crunch. Other menu items include dairy and non-dairy smoothies, fresh fruit cups, and parfait-style breakfast yogurt layered with fresh berries.
“Georgia is a key point on our U.S. road map, and LB Yogurt will be a strong territory developer as well as a strong ambassador for our brand,” says Aaron Serruya, president of Yogen Früz. “At the same time, as our third master franchise announcement in a month, this agreement shows the power of the frozen yogurt space in general and the Yogen Früz experience in the space in particular. We may be selling the big chill, but the market is red-hot.”