Fro-yo girl here. Since the frozen yogurt industry doesn’t have a large scale tradeshow devoted to frozen yogurt, the National Restaurant Association (NRA Show) is the best place to learn about new trends, new technologies and new products in frozen yogurt (and the foodservice industry in general). This year was my first time attending the NRA Show, the nation’s largest foodservice show, and I went with several goals in mind: (1) to serve as an expert judge for Revel Systems’ inaugural Swirl of Excellence Frozen Yogurt taste competition, (2) to meet others in the frozen yogurt industry and learn about new trends, products, and technologies, (3) to sample frozen yogurt, (4) to have fun and see a few chefs that I admire.
Because there’s so much to report, I’m planning multiple posts that cover the NRA Show. These posts will be on the IFYA blog (internationalfrozenyogurt.com/news):
- Swirl of Excellence Frozen Yogurt Competition Sponsored by Revel Systems
- New Frozen Yogurt Trends, Products & Technology: Frozen Yogurt Mixes
- New Frozen Yogurt Trends, Products & Technology: Frozen Yogurt Machines, Packaging, POS, Franchises
General NRA Show Observations and Tips
If you do attend the NRA Show, don’t bother to make lunch plans. There’s so much free food being handed out and you’ll be so tired that you won’t have room or energy to get lunch elsewhere. They had pizza, flatbread, burgers, Chicago dogs, seafood, mini tacos, hummus, gyros, bagels, pastries, noodles, and of course desserts – frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato and cookies. You can also buy food at the pizza place, Starbucks and Mc Donald’s but why bother when you’re surrounded by free food?
Wear comfortable shoes and grab a map/download the NRA app so that you can find your way around. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking – or you can rent a motorized wheelchair.
I attended several chef demonstrations (Art Smith, Ming Tsai, Marc Forgione – none of them made froyo) and those are worth going to. You can watch the chef in action and hear personal stories. Few people in the audience want to ask questions, so if you’re a fan of a chef, do attend and ask a question. You can also meet them one on one at the book signings.
Tomorrow’s post on Revel Systems’ Swirl of Excellence Frozen Yogurt Competition will appear on the IFYA blog.
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.
Fro-yo girl here. It’s estimated that anywhere from 70-80% of frozen yogurt consumers are female. With so many female customers, it’s not surprising that many frozen yogurt shops are designed to appeal to women. Witness the number of shops decorated in white and pink, cutesy logos, and pictures of fruit.
However, a few shops are bucking the trend with masculine daddy/bro/dude names like Daddy Yo’s, Yo Daddy, Yogurt Brothers, YoBro, and Dude Where’s My Yogurt. Then there are shops named after men, like YoJohnny, Eddie’s Frozen Yogurt, Uncle Gussy’s and Uncle Buck’s. Surf inspired shop names like Surf’N Yogurt and Big Kahuna Yogurt also have masculine appeal. Huddles in Indianapolis, which is owned by the daughter of the Colts owner, shows Colts games and sells Colts apparel. CUPS Frozen Yogurt takes a different sexier approach and is being called the Hooters of frozen yogurt.
These shops have differentiated themselves with their names and décor, but are they different from other frozen yogurt shops? Or is the difference in name only? It looks like their yogurt and toppings are the same as other frozen yogurt places. Yo Daddy is somewhat different because it also offers beer and wine which is unusual for a frozen yogurt establishment.
For a laugh, check out Conan’s Brozen Brogurt video, which is a spoof on what a manly frozen yogurt and manly toppings: http://teamcoco.com/video/brozen-brogurt-the-frozen-yogurt-just-for-bros
Supermarkets are starting to carry yogurt products that can be classified as Man Foods.
ProYo high protein frozen yogurt, launched on the West Coast in March 2013, is set for a national rollout in grocery stores next year.
In case you haven’t heard, there is a Greek yogurt for men, called Powerful Yogurt. Powerful Yogurt, “the first yogurt in the U.S. designed for a man’s health and nutrition needs” features images of toned torsos reminiscent of a razor or protein powder commercial.
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.
