Yogen Früz facts for kids
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Yogen Früz headquarters in Markham
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | Thornhill, Ontario, Canada (1986) |
| Founders | Michael Serruya Aaron Serruya |
| Headquarters | 210 Shields Court, Markham, Ontario Canada |
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Number of locations
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over 1,300 |
| Products | Frozen Yogurt Smoothie Yogurt Fruit Cup |
| Parent | International Franchise Corp. |
Yogen Früz is a Canadian company that sells yummy frozen yogurt and smoothies. They also offer other healthy snacks! You can find their stores all over the world, run by the company, by people who buy a special license (called a franchise), or through other partnerships. Their main office is in Markham, Ontario, Canada, but their treats are enjoyed in many countries.
Contents
The Story of Yogen Früz
Yogen Früz was started in 1986 by two brothers, Michael and Aaron Serruya. They opened their very first store in August 1986 at The Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. The two dots over the 'u' in 'Früz' are called an umlaut. It's a cool way to make the name sound a bit foreign and interesting!
Early Success and Growth
The first store made frozen yogurt cups and shakes mixed with fresh fruit. People loved it! Within a year, the company started opening its first franchise stores in London, Ontario. By 1989, Yogen Früz had opened its 100th store. The brothers' younger brother, Simon, joined the company in 1989 when he was 18.
In December 2005, a company called International Franchise Corp. bought Yogen Früz. Today, Yogen Früz is the biggest company that franchises frozen yogurt stores. They have over 1,300 locations in more than 20 countries! They want people to see their products as a healthy choice for a good lifestyle.
Celebrating 30 Years
In 2016, Yogen Früz celebrated 30 years in business. To mark this special occasion, they let customers design a new cup for their products. The person who won had their design shown on the company's website. They also got five years of free frozen yogurt or a $1,000 scholarship!
Today, Yogen Früz serves special frozen yogurt that has good bacteria called probiotics. They mix it with fruit or serve it as a soft-serve treat. They also make smoothies with and without dairy. For their regular yogurt cups, you can choose different types of yogurt, like low-fat or non-fat.
How Yogen Früz Works
Yogen Früz often works with "master franchisees." These are people or companies who get the right to open many stores themselves. They can also sell licenses to other people to open Yogen Früz stores. These agreements usually last for 10 to 20 years. The master franchisee also agrees to open a certain number of stores each year.
Expanding the Business
The company also uses a clever way to grow called "co-branding." This means putting small Yogen Früz counters inside other existing stores. This allows Yogen Früz products to be sold alongside other well-known foods. As of 2008, these master franchise deals and co-branding are the main ways the company grows.
The Serruya brothers first looked to open stores in other countries instead of just the United States. This was because in the 1980s, there were already many frozen yogurt shops in the U.S. Also, back then, most people weren't used to the taste of yogurt. By early 1995, Yogen Früz had 170 stores in Canada. This made up 80 percent of the frozen yogurt market in Canada! By 2007, Yogen Früz had over 1,200 stores in more than 25 countries, including the United States.
In 2008, the company showed off a new design for its stores and brand. This new look was made for both small and large stores, whether they were in malls or stand-alone buildings. In 2010, a company called Archeology Investments signed a deal to open Yogen Früz shops in several countries in the Middle East, including Dubai and Qatar.
Awards and Recognition
Yogen Früz has won some cool awards over the years:
- In 1999, the company was ranked number 1 among all major franchise chains around the world.
- In 2009, the company won the Frankie Award for having the best website design and menu board design in Canadian franchising.
See also
- List of frozen yogurt companies
