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YOGURTINI® SELF-SERVE FROZEN YOGURT ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF FIRST NEBRASKA LOCATION

Market Watch Wall Street Journal

 

Tempe, AZ (May 1, 2012) – Yogurtini®, originally established in Tempe, Arizona in 2008, today announces its expansion into Nebraska with the grand opening of its 22nd frozen yogurt franchise opening in the Lincoln, NE at Crossroads Pavilion, 233 N. 48th Street, Lincoln, NE  68504.

To celebrate Yogurtini’s franchise expansion into Nebraska, Yogurtini’s Lincoln location will be giving out FREE self-serve frozen yogurt on Saturday, May 5th from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Part of the celebration will include music and a face painting for kids. Yogurtini will be accepting donations in partnership with Make-A-Wish.

“We are so excited to bring Yogurtini® to Lincoln.  We love the product, the concept and we love the excitement the entire community is showing us,” said Roger Clark, co-owner of the new Lincoln franchise location. “We are expecting a huge turnout for the grand opening and are thrilled to be partnering with Make-A-Wish and supporting their commitment to granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions,” he continued.

The Lincoln location is the first Yogurtini® store in Nebraska. Quickly building a devoted following of its non-fat, real yogurt, pay by the ounce model and by providing its customers with a unique experience upon each visit. The serve-yo-self® concept allows customers to make their own frozen yogurt creation, creating blends and concoctions, just like a signature martini.  “I can’t get enough of our Bananalicious yogurt with fresh berries and chocolate sauce. My wife, Beth, just loves the Red Velvet with brownie bites,” Roger shared.

Yogurtini® regularly has classic flavors such as Ultimate Chocolate, Classic Vanilla, Chelsey’s Cheesecake, and Peanut Butter, but there is always a surprise for the more adventurous like Northshore Pineapple Tart, Orange Creamsicle and Ruby Red Grapefruit Tartini. The incomparable Yogurtini® “House” Tart, along with a non-dairy and no sugar added flavor option is always a main stay. At Yogurtini, Flavortini© recipes are created by mixing an array of frozen yogurts and toppings like the famous “Extra Dirty”; a favorite among their loyal following.

About Yogurtini, and YHI, Inc. ®: Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha Nelson and Chelsey NelsonYogurtini® Self-Serve only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association. Yogurtini® has been recognized by customers, the national press and readers recently voted Yogurtini® as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine.

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program.http://www.facebook.com/yogurtini or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/yogurtini. YHI, Inc is the franchise development company for Yogurtini. Learn about franchising atwww.yogurtini.com/franchise. Yogurtini offers frozen yogurt franchise area development agreements. Additional Yogurtini franchises are under development in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Virginia, New York, Washington and Missouri.

Yogurtini Self-Serve Opens Third South Florida Location; Grand Opening Free Froyo Party: 4-6, April 21

 

MIAMI, April 16, 2012 — – Yogurtini® (YHI, Inc.) a national frozen yogurt franchise, celebrates the launch of its third store in South Florida at the Shoppes @ 104, 14607 SW 104th St., Suite 3A in Kendall with a free yogurt party from 4 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.

The Yogurtini Self-Serve shop in Miami (http://twitter.com/yogurtiniSFL) is one of 10 stores owners Emilio and Javier Braun of Yogurtini Florida LLC plan to open in two years. The brothers have an exclusive contract with Yogurtini® to expand the Arizona-based franchise in South Florida.

The Miami-based Yogurtini Florida opened its first Florida store in Coral Springs at 4230 N. State Road 7 in the Turtle Crossing Shopping Center in the fall of 2011, and their second in Davie at the Shoppes of Rolling Hills, 3325 South University Dr., Suite 121, in January.

Yogurtini® is known for offering a rotating selection of 16 flavors and more than 65 toppings. The company charges an affordable 39 cents an ounce, among the lowest in the industry. The company also has a menu of Flavortini recipes created by mixing an array of frozen yogurts and toppings. Flavortinis like the “Extra Dirty” and “The Peanut Butter and Jelly” are favorites.

Event Details Who: Yogurtini® Self-Serve What/When: Grand Opening Free Yogurt Party, 4 – 6 p.m., Saturday, April 21 Where: 14607 SW 104th St., Suite 3A, in the Shoppes @ 104 Why: We like parties. We’ll have a DJ and a face painter for the kid in all of us. Call: 305-385-6200

About Yogurtini, and YHI, Inc. ®: Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha Nelson and Chelsey NelsonYogurtini® Self-Serve only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association. Yogurtini® has been recognized by customers and the press in its native Arizona, where readers recently voted Yogurtini® as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine.

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program.http://www.facebook.com/yogurtini or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/yogurtini. YHI, Inc is the franchise development company for Yogurtini. Learn about franchising atwww.yogurtini.com/franchise. Yogurtini offers frozen yogurt franchise area development agreements. Additional Yogurtini franchises are under development in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Virginia and Missouri.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/16/2751721/yogurtini-self-serve-opens-third.html#storylink=cpy

 

You Can Be Your Own Boss With Yogurtini Self Serve Frozen Yogurt Franchise According to the Miami Herald!

The Miami Heral

The Miami Herald

 

You Can Be Your Own Boss With Yogurtini Self Serve Frozen Yogurt Franchise According to the Miami Herald!

 

Franchise opportunities are growing in South Florida, allowing new business owners to build on the strength of a proven brand.

“Folks underestimate themselves — with the great training they get in the corporate world, they are in a position to run their own business,” he said. “They don’t know it, but they come with a skill set. As long as they bring the same focus and attention into something that is of great interest to them, it gives them the tools to be successful in their own small company.”

To be sure, prospective franchisees should also do their due diligence and examine the company, including its track record, business model, competition, training and support, and reasons for choosing South Florida, Peña said.

South Florida entrepreneur Emilio Braun spent two years looking for a franchising opportunity in South Florida, before settling on frozen yogurt.

After researching various brands, he signed a master franchise development contract with Tempe, Ariz.-based Yogurtini, for Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

He and his brother, Javier, opened their first shop in Coral Springs about five months ago, another in Davie last month, and plan a third in Kendall, which will open in March. In all, they hope to open at least 10 within five years.

The brothers, who have businesses in industries such as television and real estate, sold their 80 mobile phone stores in Mexico and funded the yogurt shops with their own capital.

They decided that franchising was their next best bet.

“When I started doing research, I saw that competition is very high in the States, so if you don’t do it the right way you are going to go out of business very quickly,” Emilio Braun said.

Franchise rules that govern everything from the size of the space to the type of sound system installed end up being advantageous in the long run, he said, allowing him to “compete in a saturated market.”

“I have support from the franchiser in marketing, in publicity, in operations. We do a conference call every two weeks to see how things are going, and they come and visit every month or two,” said Braun, 37. “So that is the price you are paying. I believe it is worth it.”

Nevertheless, franchising is not for everyone. Starting your own business without the constraints and costs of buying a franchise is far more appealing for some entrepreneurs.

“You don’t have to pay for a mentor if you find the right one,” said Todd Fener, who lives in Key Biscayne and owns four coin laundries. He found his own mentor in John O’Brien, a Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur who owns 17 coin laundries.

For many, the biggest hurdle to opening a franchise remains access to credit, Caldeira said. Loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, once considered the last resort, have become the first option, he said.

In fact, the SBA has guaranteed more than 500 loans during the past six years, totaling $242.3 million, for franchisees south of Orlando, said Althea Harris, assistant district director of marketing and outreach at the SBA office in Miami.

“In many cases, it is easier to get a franchise financed than other businesses,” Peña said, citing franchiser financing and the possibility of using your own retirement funds.

Pein, for example, was able to finance her first 7-Eleven franchise by taking out a $200,000 loan with Citibank, which, at the time, had an arrangement with the company.

Read full article here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/19/2650495_p2/you-can-be-the-boss-for-a-price.html#storylink=cpy

About Yogurtini, and YHI, Inc ®:

Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha Nelson and Chelsey NelsonYogurtini® Self-Serve offers up to 16 rotating healthy and fat-free frozen yogurt flavors and over 70 toppings. Yogurtini® only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association.  The popularity of Yogurtini® and the brand has been recognized consistently by customers and the press in its native Arizona, where readers recently voted Yogurtini® as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine. The accelerated growth of the franchise has been recognized by the national press including Fox Business NewsThe Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. Yogurtini® boasts having some of the most knowledgeable yogurt innovators in the industry. Yogurtini’s top quality, taste, original flavors, and extensive toppings have been praised by the masses.

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program. http://www.facebook.com/yogurtini or follow us on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/yogurtini. For more information on Yogurtini® visitwww.yogurtini.com. YHI, Inc is the franchise development company for Yogurtini. To learn more about being awarded a Yogurtini franchise visit www.yogurtini.com/franchise . Yogurtini is now offering frozen yogurt franchise area development agreements. Additional Yogurtini franchises are currently under construction and development in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Missouri.

Yogurtini Self-Serve Franchise Owner Featured In The Denver Post!

Franchise owner, Jen Cochran Lone Tree, CO Yogurtini Self-Serve was recently interviewed by The Denver Post.

Business Focus: Yogurtini, Lone Tree

Self-serving up a healthy treat

 

 

 

Owner Jennifer Cochran stands in front of the self-serve dispensers. Photo by Steve Shultz, YourHub

How did you get involved in this business? After visiting a self-serve frozen yogurt shop in Indianapolis two years ago, we decided it would be a perfect fit for the Lone Tree area. We began researching franchises, and Yogurtini was the perfect fit for us. We chose Yogurtini because of the great tasting yogurt, and the colors and ambience.

What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category? Yogurtini self-serve offers more flavors and more toppings than any other self-serve yogurt shop. We have a premium product: nonfat and low-fat real frozen yogurt with more live and active cultures than the National Yogurt Association requires. We always offer one non-dairy and one no-sugar added option. Because you “serve yo self” at Yogurtini, you are in control. One can serve up as much or as little as they’d like and simply pay by the ounce. We are always introducing new and exciting flavors like Maple Bacon Donut, Caramel Macchiato, Blueberry Muffin or Green Tea Tartini. We also have more than 85 toppings so you can swirl up something new and exciting every time you come in. We also feature a “Flavortini” board. A Flavortini is an enticing combination of Yogurtini frozen yogurt and toppings that taste great together. We encourage our customers to create and share their own ideas.

What do you like best about your line of work? I enjoy the daily interaction with customers and the flexibility in owning a business. Since I have two children involved in many activities, the flexibility is important to our family.

What is your business’ biggest challenge? There is a lot of competition in the frozen dessert category. Our product is premium and healthy and we do our best to get that message out to everyone. Since people who live in Lone Tree tend to keep active and are health conscious, they appreciate that Yogurtini self-serve offers a healthy treat. In addition, during the cold weather months, a frozen treat isn’t always at top of mind. We try to keep reminding everyone how delicious our yogurt is and entice people with new flavors and specials.

Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business: Yogurtini offers fundraisers for schools, clubs, church groups, charities, sports clubs/teams and PTO organizations. Yogurtini Lone Tree is willing to donate 20 percent to any organization hosting a fundraising night. Yogurtini also hosts birthday parties, with the birthday girl/boy getting their yogurt for free. Also, Yogurtini offers a reusable stainless steel container for to-go patrons. It comes with a lifetime 10 percent discount, and the first fill is free.

About Yogurtini, and YHI, Inc ®:

Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha Nelson and Chelsey Nelson, Yogurtini® Self-Serve offers up to 16 rotating healthy and fat-free frozen yogurt flavors and over 70 toppings. Yogurtini® only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association.  The popularity of Yogurtini® and the brand has been recognized consistently by customers and the press in its native Arizona, where readers recently voted Yogurtini® as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine. The accelerated growth of the franchise has been recognized by the national press including Fox Business News, The Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. Yogurtini® boasts having some of the most knowledgeable yogurt innovators in the industry. Yogurtini’s top quality, taste, original flavors, and extensive toppings have been praised by the masses.

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program. http://www.facebook.com/yogurtini or follow us on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/yogurtini. For more information on Yogurtini® visit www.yogurtini.com. YHI, Inc is the franchise development company for Yogurtini. To learn more about being awarded a Yogurtini franchise visit  www.yogurtini.com/franchise . Yogurtini is now offering frozen yogurt franchise area development agreements. Additional Yogurtini franchises are currently under construction and development in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Missouri.

Food Network Lists Yogurt as a Stress Reliever

 

 

According to the Food Network, you can eat your way to a more relaxed state — and no, we don’t mean pigging out on high-calorie junk food. While there isn’t a cure-all food to magically erase frustration, you can get some stress relief with a combo of exercising, eating small meals throughout the day and getting more of these 10 fresh goodies. You can get an an amazing three out of ten at Yogurtini Self-Serve- nuts, yogurt and chocolate!

 

1. Whole-Wheat Pretzels
Eating carbohydrate-rich foods gives you an energy boost and triggers the brain to release a feel-good chemical called serotonin. Opting for a whole-grain snack (cereals, pretzels, bread, crackers, etc.) provides extra fiber, too.

2. Carrots
Munching on crunchy foods also helps beat stress. Nutrient-rich carrots, celery and other crunchy, fresh veggies offer satisfying crispness but won’t bog you down with too many calories.

3. Tea
Calm frazzled nerves with a steaming cup of your favorite tea blend. The soothing warmth and tea’s plant compounds work together to level off your body’s response to stress. Both herbal and black tea can help.

4. Nuts
Stress runs you down, which leaves you open to sickness. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are high in the antioxidant vitamin E and zinc — both good for boosting your immune system. Bonus: Those nuts are good sources of B-vitamins, which help the body manage stress, too. Since nuts are high in (healthy) fat, stick to a 1/4-cup portions.

5. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard and other leafy veggies like spinach are full of magnesium (a single cup covers 40% of your daily need); getting more magnesium can help control and limit your body’s release of the stress-spiking hormone cortisol. Science stuff aside, wilted greens are a delicious addition to soups, pasta and rice dishes or taste great just sautéed with olive oil and garlic.

6. Yogurt
Work more calcium into your diet with non-fat or low-fat yogurt — a sprinkle of nuts and some fresh fruit will turn it into an ultra-satisfying snack. The good-for-you part: Yogurt contains probiotics that help create a healthy and calm digestive system.

7. Chocolate
Chocolate lovers know that just a taste can cure all that ails them and there’s science to back it up. Research indicates that dark chocolate may lower levels of stress hormones. Chocolate also contains sugar (a carbohydrate), so it releases mood-improving serotonin. It’s alright to indulge; just keep the portions in check — shoot for one-ounce servings.

Read more about the health benefits of chocolate.

8. Milk
Have a glass to get more B-vitamins, protein, vitamin D and bone-building calcium to relieve tense muscles. Stick to the low-fat (1%) or skim varieties. If you prefer it with more flavor, have some with whole-grain cereal in the morning or sip on some chocolate milk around bedtime to bring on more restful sleep.

9. Banana and Avocado
That’s two things, we know, but what do these fruits have in common? They’re loaded with potassium, a vital mineral for keeping blood pressure low. Add sliced banana to your morning oatmeal or a half-cup of sliced avocado to a lunchtime salad or sandwich. That will cover your potassium needs for the day.

10. Fatty Fish
The heart-healthy omega-3 fats in fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna manage adrenaline levels to help keep you calm, cool and collected. They’re also good for just about every part of your body, including the eyes, skin and hair.

About Yogurtini, and YHI, Inc ®:

Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha Nelson and Chelsey Nelson, Yogurtini® Self-Serve offers up to 16 rotating healthy and fat-free frozen yogurt flavors and over 70 toppings. Yogurtini® only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association.  The popularity of Yogurtini® and the brand has been recognized consistently by customers and the press in its native Arizona, where readers recently voted Yogurtini® as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine. The accelerated growth of the franchise has been recognized by the national press including Fox Business News, The Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. Yogurtini® boasts having some of the most knowledgeable yogurt innovators in the industry. Yogurtini’s top quality, taste, original flavors, and extensive toppings have been praised by the masses.

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program. http://www.facebook.com/yogurtini or follow us on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/yogurtini. For more information on Yogurtini® visitwww.yogurtini.com. YHI, Inc is the franchise development company for Yogurtini. To learn more about being awarded a Yogurtini franchise visit  www.yogurtini.com/franchise . Yogurtini is now offering frozen yogurt franchise area development agreements. Additional Yogurtini franchises are currently under construction and development in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Missouri.