The booming popularity of frozen yogurt shops has been hard to ignore. Franchises and locally owned self-serve stores have popped up near shopping malls and college campuses with great enthusiasm over the past decade. The demand for frozen yogurt has waned slightly in recent years, but a majority of yogurt fans are as enthusiastic as ever. Much of the continued success of frozen yogurt can be attributed to the rise of millennial purchasing power.
Year-round treat
Frozen yogurt stores have worked hard to position the treat as the healthier alternative to ice cream and popsicles. The success of this branding strategy by the frozen yogurt industry has been very successful, allowing yogurt shops to stay in business even after summer traffic slows to a trickle. Consumers, especially health-conscious millennials, are more willing to enjoy a cool treat with health benefits even while the temperature begins to drop. Young professionals aren't the only consumers paying closer attention to their waist lines. Research from the National Restaurant Association reports that 73 percent of Americans are making healthier eating decisions, says QSR.
A neighborhood favorite
Colorful interiors and posh furnishings are common features among self-serve yogurt franchises. In general, frozen yogurt shops have abandoned old-fashioned parlor aesthetics to build a casual atmosphere that invites young people to sit and spend time with their friends. Some of the most successful frozen yogurt shops are those that resonate with young customers as a cool spot to meet with friends. Other yogurt shops, such as the new Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt franchise shop in Texarkana, Texas, are building a customer base by getting involved with local fundraisers. This strategy allows the franchise store to grow roots in the community without depending on appealing to a younger crowd, according to Texarkana Today.