Go Greek Beverly Hills Changes to Gel Matic Soft Serve Machines

 

Fro-yo girl here. During my recent visit to Go Greek in Beverly Hills, I noticed something was different…they have new soft serve machines. The Taylor soft serve machines have been replaced by shiny new Gel Matic soft serve machines. It was my first time seeing Gel Matic machines in a frozen yogurt shop. The texture seemed less dense and lighter compared to Taylor’s machines. But the settings could have been changed, so I’m not sure if the difference is really due to the difference between the machines vs. the settings.

Gel Matic machines are made in Italy. The company has been in business for over 50 years and specializes in express blending technology. The machines looked fancy and said Made in Italy across the top.

Gel Matic soft serve machines are more common in Australia and Europe.

Go Greek in Studio City still uses Taylor soft serve machines.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

IKEA Burbank Gets a New Soft Serve Machine

Fro-yo girl here. The Taylor soft serve machine at IKEA in Burbank, CA, was down for much of the summer, so IKEA could not serve vanilla froyo or strawberry soft ice. And one day, there was a brand new soft serve machine by Carpigiani (a fancier machine from an Italian brand). Froyo is back!

It may be a setting issue, but the vanilla frozen yogurt texture seems lighter (more air). There might be too much air in the mix, because the flavor seems bland. It’s almost like eating marshmallow fluff. The strawberry soft ice is denser and icier, with a definite tang.

A child size froyo cup is $1.50 and a child size soft ice cup is $1.40.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Looking for Used Taylor Machines

Fro-yo girl here. A buyer is seeking at least three late model (712 or 713) used Taylor frozen yogurt machines in excellent condition, preferably water cooled. Contact me at froyogirl@gmail.com for additional information. 

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Taylor Fro-yo Machines & Restaurant Equipment Available

Fro-yo girl here. A fro-yo shop in the Bay Area is looking to sell the following equipment:

* 3 Taylor C713 gently used air-cooled soft serve machines, Twin twist can be used for soft serve fro-yo, ice cream, custard, etc. Freezing cylinder: 2, 3.4 quart. Mix hopper: 2, 20 quart
* Dispensers: True T-28, True T-28F, True TSSU-48-12
* Mop Sink
* Corner 3-Comp Sinks with drainboards
* Prep sink with drainboards
* Hand sink
* Zevro snack dispensers with hardware

If interested, please contact me at froyogirl@gmail.com

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Fro-yo Open House at Taylor Freezers

Fro-yo girl here. YoCream sponsored today's open house at Taylor Freezers office in South San Francisco and the focus of the event was on their new line of Activia soft serve frozen yogurt flavors. Like Activia yogurt, Activia fro-yo has bifidus regularis which helps regulate your digestive system. Activia Frozen Yogurt comes in four non-fat flavors: Peach, Blueberry, Strawberry and Vanilla. These are sweet flavors that taste similar to Activia yogurt and have a smooth, creamy texture. The fruit flavors are subtle. I didn't get a chance to try the vanilla flavor (it wasn't there).


Attendees also had the opportunity to sample Watermelon Sorbet, Thin Mint Cookies, Greek Yogurt (now with a touch of honey) and Pink Grapefruit (tart) fro-yo. Pink Grapefruit was my favorite flavor but I prefer tart fro-yo.

Taylor also had some broaster chicken available to promote their broaster fryer equipment.

You can catch YoCream tomorrow (June 2) in Sacramento from 10 - 4 PM.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

June 2: Taylor Freezers, 524 Display Way, West Sacramento, CA

Upcoming Fro-yo Open Houses in Northern CA

Fro-yo girl here. YoCream is sponsoring a series of open houses in Northern California. The events, which are attended by fro-yo shop owners (existing ones and aspiring) are a place for fro-yo networking and information gathering. You can learn about industry trends and store operations, and try new fro-yo flavors and toppings, etc. Vendors will be on hand from 10 AM - 4 PM.

YoCream will be there with their brand new product line, Activia soft serve fro-yo. I'm excited about trying it.

June 1: Taylor Freezers, 221 Harris Ct, South San Francisco, CA
June 2: Taylor Freezers, 524 Display Way, West Sacramento, CA
June 9: Western Freezers, 42285 Osgood Rd, Unit F, Fremont, CA

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Fro-yo Trade Show Coverage (4/23 at Taylor Freezers)

Fro-yo girl here. I swung by the frozen yogurt trade show at the Taylor Freezers in South San Francisco. It was such a thrill to see the warehouse area with Taylor equipment and parts. Taylor has special events (check http://www.taylorfreezers.com) like gelato school (and maybe fro-yo school?)

The fro-yo show brought together the key suppliers of the fro-yo industry. And yes, there was free fro-yo (from YoCream, Rainbow’s End and Sambazon) and fro-yo toppings (TR Toppers, Nell Davis Old Fashioned Ice Cream Company).

A bit about the vendors:
* TAYLOR: If you’ve ever had soft serve anything, you’re sure to have seen their soft serve equipment. I’ve heard that they have a market share of 80 – 90%.
* YOCREAM (http://www.yocream.com/): Founded in 1976, YoCream is the leading supplier of the frozen yogurt mix. I met Barbara R., their key account manager. A true fro-yo industry legend and veteran, she once represented Honey Hill Farms. Her son, Jason R., represents another fro-yo brand, Rainbow’s End. I’m hoping to go to Portland, OR for a YoCream factory tour and to see their brand new retail store which opened last month.
* LOLLICUP (http://www.cupdepot.com/): I thought they might bring boba/pearl tea samples but they didn’t. I learned that Lollicup is the leading manufacturer of cold/hot paper food containers (under the Karat brand). They supply 90% of fro-yo businesses and offer custom logo cups. I saw cups with the logos of Tuttimelon, Chill, Whimsical, Yogurt Bar, and many more.
* SOUTHWEST TRADERS (http://www.southwesttraders.com): The leading distributor offers one stop shopping for quick service restaurants (including frozen yogurt shops).
* TR TOPPERS (http://www.trtoppers.com/products.html): TR Toppers offers chopped and non-chopped candies, baked goods, and other toppings, including Reese’s™ Peanut Butter Cups, cheesecake pieces, sprinkles, yogurt chips, Kit Kat, etc.
* SMOOTHEZE and SUMMIT PREMIUM GELATO (http://www.srfoodgroup.com/product.html): They offer healthy smoothie mixes (just scoop, add water and blend) and premium gelato. I saw the free gelato but I didn’t try any – I’m all about the fro-yo.
* SAMBAZON (http://www.sambazon.com/): They brought a tasty acai fro-yo to the show. Sambazon is the first company to import certified Organic Acai from Brazil to the US.
* NELL DAVIS OLD FASHIONED ICE CREAM COMPANY: They offer toppings. At the show they had Dae Doo Food Co. pastel mochi and fruity jelly cubes, along with candy toppings. I always wondered about those Korean jelly cubes (I’ve seen them at Kukje). I don’t think I’d like them on fro-yo.

Attendees included fro-yo luminaries as Roy L. (Mr. Tuttimelon) and the owners of Icebee, Yumygurt, etc.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.