franchise opportunity

Yogurtini co-founder interviewed by NFIB about her growing self serve frozen yogurt franchise during a personal crisis

Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Yogurtini self serve frozen yogurt franchise co-founder was recently interviewed on how her sister and her grew their frozen yogurt business during a personal crisis. To listen to the podcast visit here.

 

Yogurtini self serve frozen yogurt

NFIB podcast

 

 

About Yogurtini® and YHI, Inc.

Yogurtini® Self-Serve, originally created in 2008 by sisters Natasha Nelson and Chelsey Nelson in Tempe, AZ., Yogurtini® Self-Serve has become one of the fastest growing franchise companies in the frozen dessert sector. The popularity of the brand stems from its’ superior product, the sophisticated décor, ambiance and extensive marketing by YHI. Yogurtini® offers up to 16 rotating healthy and fat-free frozen yogurt flavors and over 70 toppings. Yogurtini® is a premium product and only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association.

In July of 2009 YHI, Inc. was formed by the Nelson sisters. With the unification of a diverse team of experts in the area of finance, marketing, construction, operations and product development, YHI was determined and prepared to create a successful franchise on a national level.

The Yogurtini® Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) was completed in October of 2009 and the first franchise location was sold in November of 2009 and opened in Phoenix, AZ. in June of 2010. The second and third locations opened in July and August of 2010 in Kansas City, MO. Since formation and without any outside capital, YHI has averaged opening one store a month. By the end of 2012, YHI will have over 20 stores open across the country. Yogurtini® has signed area development agreements in Southern Florida and additional franchises are currently under construction and development in Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Florida, Nebraska, Virginia and Missouri.

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. Recently readers of 944 Magazine voted Yogurtini® as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine. Yogurtini® boasts having some of the most knowledgeable yogurt innovators in the industry. The popularity of the Yogurtini® brand and 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® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program.http://www.facebook.com/yogurtini, http://www.myspace.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 self-serve frozen yogurt franchise signs ten store master franchise deal in South Florida!

Posted on Monday, October 10, 2011
Coral Springs Yogurtini

Coral Springs Yogurtini

 

–Yogurtini Franchise Company, YHI Signs Contract For Area Development in So. FL. –

TEMPE, Ariz. , 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Yogurtini® (YHI, Inc), a quickly growing and popular national self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, today announces the grand opening of it’s first franchise location in Coral Springs, FL on Sat. Oct. 1. The Coral Springs store marks the first of a ten-store area development deal with brothers Emilio and Javier Braun.

The brothers, who are based in Miami, are in the process of opening stores in Davie, Fort Lauderdale and the Hammocks Community in South Miami-Dade County.

“We’re excited to launch our first store in Florida. Yogurtini® has a great product and focus in providing the community great service and an affordable and healthy frozen yogurt,” said Emilio Braun, President, Yogurtini Florida LLC.

“Our company is looking forward to working with the Braun brothers as we expand into the Florida region,” said Natasha Nelson, President of Yogurtini. “They have the business experience and excitement for the brand, which is exactly what we look for in partnering with area developers as we grow,” she continued.

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, Blueberry Muffin 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 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. Yogurtini® was also nominated for “Best Frozen Yogurt” by The Phoenix New Times. 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, http://www.myspace.com/yogurtini or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/yogurtini and specifically for Southern FL at @YogurtiniSFL. 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, Virginia and Missouri.

 

Great article on how to choose a successful franchise – have you considered a frozen yogurt franchise?

Posted on Monday, September 19, 2011
The Franchise Hound

The Franchise Hound

 

As the co-founder and President of the self serve frozen yogurt Yogurtini self-serve franchise I am always researching what the experts think makes a franchise successful. I found this article on The Franchise Hound. They quote the Small Business Administration, ” only 5% of new franchise businesses fail, as opposed to 30% of non-franchise businesses.” Although the odds of going with a proven franchise system seems to be better they outline four areas why some franchises succeed and some do not.I not only found it very interesting but it reassured me that the Yogurtini franchise team is on the right track. I posted the article below but you can also read it here. – Let me know what you think?- Natasha Nelson

 

4 Elements of a Successful Franchise

Offering everything from sandwiches to tire repair to consumers, franchises play a huge role in how business gets done in the 21st century. And it’s easy to see why: they work. According to the Small Business Administration, only 5% of new franchise businesses fail, as opposed to 30% of non-franchise businesses.

Franchising, however, is not a sure thing; there are reasons why some succeed and some do not.

The Idea

The most important element behind franchise success is the idea.

The idea has to be unique, creative, and something that the market needs and wants, both now and in the future. It need not be an entirely new idea, but it needs to have enough new elements to make it fresh, interesting, and marketable – a twist, a different angle, something that hasn’t been done exactly that way before. A good idea also avoids one common trap in the franchise world: over-saturation of a market. By definition, a good idea puts a franchise business ahead of its competition.

The System

A franchise needs to have a workable and easily-replicated system. The reason McDonald’s has been successful is that the menu is simple, the production process makes sense, and each individual restaurant can be run by a manager with minimal training. A franchise’s system includes effective leadership in the parent company, since good leadership affects how the whole business runs.

Advertising and Marketing

One of the benefits of franchising for individual franchise owners is the advertising provided on a national or international level. Because of this advertising and marketing, consumers recognize the brand, understand what it offers, and know what they can expect. The individual franchises can then piggy-back on this brand recognition and build on it with advertising in their own local or regional markets. Brands that don’t offer good marketing on a national level, however, make it difficult for individual franchises to succeed.

Ongoing Communication, Training and Support

There must be a sense, in a franchise system, that everyone’s in it together. This means regular communication between the parent company and the individual franchise owners; training in new systems, methods, materials, and products; and support for franchise owners, operators, and managers.

For a franchise to succeed it needs a good idea, a strong and easily-replicated system, creative marketing, and communication and support. With these four elements, a franchise might not have guaranteed success, but it has a good shot at surviving, thriving, and growing into the future.

 

If you want to learn more about our self-serve frozen yogurt franchise opportunity click here.

 

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 Wall Street Journal, Fox Business and numerous other national press outlets have covered the popularity of Yogurtini.

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. For media inquiries please contact Orange County Public Relations agency,www.nnpublicrelations.com

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program including www.facebook.com . 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, one of the fastest growing self-serve frozen yogurt franchises in the segment. To learn more about being awarded a Yogurtini franchise visit www.yogurtini.com/franchise . Additional Yogurtini franchises are currently under construction and development in Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri and Virginia.

What is the hype on the benefits of yogurt? – Yogurtini self-serve frozen yogurt franchise goes to Web MD to find out

Posted on Monday, September 12, 2011

WebMD on Frozen Yogurt

 

I found an interesting article on WebMD about the benefits of yogurt. The same pertains to frozen yogurt.

Yogurtini always strives to have the highest quality and healthiest frozen yogurt on the market. We are proud to say our frozen yogurt exceeds the standards of live and active cultures the National Yogurt Association requires to actually be REAL frozen yogurt. Remember, not all yogurt is created equal.

I’ve posted the article below but to read the entire article go to this link. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-yogurt

 

The Benefits of Yogurt

What’s tasty, easy, and has lots of health benefits? Yogurt!
By
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Have you noticed that the yogurt section of most grocery stores has practically taken over the dairy aisle? It’s getting harder to find more traditional dairy foods, such as cottage cheese and sour cream, amid the sea of yogurt options. But it only makes sense that a food with as many health benefits as yogurt be given prime real estate in the supermarket.

And just what are the health benefits of yogurt?

First off, your body needs to have a healthy amount of ”good” bacteria in the digestive tract, and many yogurts are made using active, good bacteria. One of the words you’ll be hearing more of in relation to yogurt is ”probiotics.” Probiotic, which literally means ”for life,” refers to living organisms that can result in a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.

Miguel Freitas, PhD, medical marketing manager for Dannon Co., says the benefits associated with probiotics are specific to certain strains of these “good” bacteria. Many provide their benefits by adjusting the microflora (the natural balance of organisms) in the intestines, or by acting directly on body functions, such as digestion or immune function. (Keep in mind that the only yogurts that contain probiotics are those that say “live and active cultures” on the label.)

And let us not forget that yogurt comes from milk. So yogurt eaters will also get a dose of animal protein (about 9 grams per 6-ounce serving), plus several other nutrients found in dairy foods, like calcium, vitamin B-2, B-12, potassium, and magnesium.

In fact, the health benefits of yogurt are so impressive that many health-conscious people make it a daily habit. Here are five possible health benefits of having a yogurt a day:

Benefit No. 1: Yogurt May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

”Adequate nutrition plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and the micronutrients of greatest importance are calcium and vitamin D,” says Jeri Nieves, PhD, MS, director of bone density testing at New York’s Helen Hayes Hospital.

Calcium has been shown to have beneficial effects on bone mass in people of all ages, although the results are not always consistent, says Nieves, also an assistant professor of clinical epidemiology at Columbia University.

”The combination of calcium and vitamin D has a clear skeletal benefit, provided the dose of vitamin D is sufficiently high,” she adds.

And what qualifies as ”sufficiently high?”

Currently, 400 IU per day is considered an adequate intake of vitamin D for people ages 51-70, Nieves says. (Look for the Daily Value amount listed on food labels.) But more may be better.

”This amount is likely to be sufficient for most young adults for skeletal health, although many would argue that for overall health, more than the 400 IU may be required, even at these younger ages,” Nieves said in an email interview.

Nieves believes that older people specifically can benefit from more vitamin D.

Many dairy products, including some yogurts, are made with added vitamin D. Find out which brands have added vitamin D by checking out the table below, and by reading labels when you shop.

Benefit No. 2: Yogurt May Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure

A recent study, which followed more than 5,000 Spanish university graduates for about two years, found a link between dairy intake and risk of high blood pressure.

”We observed a 50% reduction in the risk of developing high blood pressure among people eating 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy a day (or more), compared with those without any intake,” Alvaro Alonso, MD, PhD, a researcher in the department of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, said in an email interview.

Although most of the low-fat dairy consumed by the study subjects was as milk, Alvaro believes low-fat yogurt would likely have the same effect.

Benefit No. 3: Yogurt With Active Cultures Helps the Gut

Yogurt with active cultures may help certain gastrointestinal conditions, including:

  • Lactose intolerance
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Colon cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • H. pylori infection

That’s what researchers from the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University concluded in a recent review article.

The benefits are thought to be due to:

  • Changes in the microflora of the gut
  • The time food takes to go through the bowel
  • Enhancement of the body’s immune system

A recent Taiwanese study looked at the effects of yogurt containing lactobacillus and bifidobacterium on 138 people with persistent H. pylori infections.

The researchers found that the yogurt improved the efficacy of four-drug therapy.

H. pylori is a type of bacteria that can cause infection in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine. It can lead to ulcers and can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Benefit No. 4: Yogurt With Active Cultures May Discourage Vaginal Infections

Candida or “yeast” vaginal infections are a common problem for women with diabetes. In a small study, seven diabetic women with chronic Candidal vaginitis consumed 6 ounces of frozen aspartame-sweetened yogurt per day (with or without active cultures).

Even though most of the women had poor blood sugar control throughout the study, the vaginal pH (measure of acidity or basicity) of the group eating yogurt with active cultures dropped from 6.0 to 4.0 (normal pH is 4.0-4.5). These women also reported a decrease in Candida infections. The women eating the yogurt without active cultures remained at pH 6.0.

Benefit No. 5: Yogurt May Help You Feel Fuller

A study from the University of Washington in Seattle tested hunger, fullness, and calories eaten at the next meal on 16 men and 16 women who had a 200-calorie snack. The snack was either:

  • Semisolid yogurt containing pieces of peach and eaten with a spoon
  • The same yogurt in drinkable form
  • A peach-flavored dairy beverage
  • Peach juice

Although those who had the yogurt snacks did not eat fewer calories at the next meal, both types of yogurt resulted in lower hunger ratings and higher fullness ratings than either of the other snacks.

6. Make Yogurt Part of the Perfect Snack

Make the perfect snack by pairing high-protein yogurt with a high-fiber food like fruit (fresh or frozen) and/or a high-fiber breakfast cereal. You can find many lower-sugar breakfast cereals with 4 or more grams of fiber per serving.

7. Whip Up a Creamier Smoothie With Yogurt

Make your smoothie creamy and thick by adding yogurt instead of ice cream or frozen yogurt. Cup for cup, light and low-fat yogurt is higher in protein and calcium than light ice cream. It’s also usually lower in fat, saturated fat, and calories.

8. Customize Your Yogurt

If you want to create your own flavored yogurt, start with your favorite plain yogurt and stir in all sorts of foods and flavors. Here are a few ideas:

  • Add chopped strawberries (1/4 cup) and 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract to 6 ounces of plain yogurt to make Strawberries and Cream Yogurt.
  • Add canned crushed pineapple (1/8 cup) and a tablespoon of flaked or shredded coconut to 6 ounces of plain yogurt to make Pina Colada Yogurt.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of cool espresso or extra-strong coffee and 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup to 6 ounces of plain yogurt to make Mochaccino Yogurt.
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped orange segments or mandarin oranges and 1 tablespoon reduced-sugar orange marmalade to 6 ounces of plain yogurt to make Orange Burst Yogurt.

9. Eat Yogurt at Work

Buy some yogurt and keep it in the office refrigerator (don’t forget to put your name on it). On those days when you need a morning or afternoon snack, that yogurt will be ready for you.

10. Use Yogurt in Recipes

Yogurt works as a substitute ingredient in all sorts of recipes. Plain yogurt can take the place of sour cream in a pinch (over baked potatoes or garnishing enchiladas). You can also substitute a complementary flavor of yogurt for some of the oil or butter called for in a muffin, brownie, or cake recipe. It can replace all of the fat called for in cake mixes, too.

 

Published March 7, 2007

About Yogurtini ®, and YHI, Inc:

Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha 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 Wall Street Journal, Fox Business and numerous other national press outlets have covered the popularity of Yogurtini.

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. For media inquiries please contact Orange County Public Relations agency,www.nnpublicrelations.com

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program including www.facebook.com . 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 . Additional Yogurtini franchises are currently under construction and development in Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Kansas Missouri and Virginia.

Yogurtini Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Franchise Featured in the Wall Street Journal

Posted on Friday, August 26, 2011

Yogurtini is making the news again, this time in the Wall Street Journal!

Yogurt Chains Give Power to the People

By JAIME LEVY PESSIN

A growing number of frozen-yogurt chains are trying a new strategy to keep business hot in a cool economy: do it yourself.

Some new chains—and some of the biggest existing ones—are letting customers portion out their own dessert, add toppings and then pay by the ounce. The idea: Snackers are lured in by the expanded choices the stores offer—and may end up digging deeper than they would otherwise.

“People are doing things on their own that they wouldn’t feel comfortable asking someone behind the counter to do,” says Tim Casey, CEO of Mrs. Fields Famous Brands LLC, parent of industry leader TCBY, which is on target to open nearly 100 self-serve stores this year.

With weight-based pricing, the average self-serve ticket is $6.32, compared with $5.61 at a traditional store, says a TCBY spokeswoman.

Of the 71 frozen-dessert franchises tracked by research firm FRANdata, at least 17 have self-serve options. All of those chains opened in the past five years. For TCBY, the growth in self-serve is coming as traditional shops shut down. The chain closed 33 stores in 2010, and will shut 11 more this year, says Mr. Casey.

Why the new focus? People want the freedom that self-serve brings, he says: “If calories are an issue or budget is an issue, they’re in control.”

Make-your-own also eliminates waiting for employees to handle each order, says Natasha Nelson, co-founder of self-serve chain Yogurtini, of Tempe, Ariz. “The lines are out the door at night, and the lines move quickly,” she says.

What’s more, Yogurtini shops generally need just two employees to cover a shift, keeping labor costs relatively low, Ms. Nelson says.

Yogurtini Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Franchise Featured in the Wall Street Journal

Do-it-yourself does have drawbacks. For one thing, it can mean higher start-up costs for franchisees. FRANdata estimates the initial investment at about $277,000 to $521,000, compared with about $234,000 to $482,000 for a full-service shop. A large chunk of that comes from yogurt machines. They can can cost $15,000 apiece, and self-serve shops often offer more flavors than traditional stores.

Another major expense is space. With customers moving around the stores to get what they want, self-serve shops need 1,325 to 3,700 square feet, compared with 900 to 1,225 for counter-service models, FRANdata says.

Edith Wiseman, FRANdata’s vice president of client solutions, says sticker shock may end the trend. Snackers love all the choices, she says. But “humans aren’t known for self-control, so after loading up on toppings, the price shocks many consumers.”

Ms. Pessin is a writer in New York. She can be reached at reports@wsj.com.

 

About Yogurtini ®, and YHI, Inc:

Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha 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. Yogurtini® was also nominated for “Best Frozen Yogurt” by The Phoenix New Times. 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. For media inquiries please contact Orange County Public Relations agency,www.nnpublicrelations.com

Yogurtini® keeps in touch with its customers through its social networking program including www.facebook.com . 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 . Additional Yogurtini franchises are currently under construction and development in Florida, Colorado, Arizona and Missouri.