Halloween Froyo Shop Spirit Award 2020 Winner Revealed

Source: Pinkberry Japan

Fro-yo girl here. Happy Froyo Halloween! Halloween’s going to be a lot different this year, but I heard people are putting more effort into decorating to compensate for the absence of trick or treating? Anyway, froyo shops with Halloween spirit have been busy celebrating with special flavors (black froyo is particularly popular this time of year), costume contests, Halloween toppings, Halloween froyo cakes, and more. You can find a list of froyo shop Halloween specials and events at https://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/news/halloween-2020-froyo-specials-&-events 

Each year, I like to recognize one froyo shop (or chain) for showing the most Halloween spirit. The tradition started in 2013.

After careful consideration, the 2020 award for the most Halloween spirit goes to…Pinkberry Japan. Every year, Pinkberry Japan creates a special Halloween froyo creation. This year, they chose monsters as a theme and started offered two Monster Swirls in mid-September. Each Monster Swirl comes with a monster eye and mouth. I like how they announced the Monster Swirls so early!

The previous Halloween Froyo Shop Spirit Award winners were:

2013: Menchie’s

2014: 16 Handles

2015: Wakaberry

2016: Menchie’s

2017: Yogurty’s

2018: Smile Yogurt

2019: Menchie’s

Menchie’s won the award in 2019. They had a new Halloween froyo spoon (Menchie dressed as a vampire), sponsored a Halloween spoon froyo contest, made Monster froyo cakes and had spooky Halloween inspired froyo flavors and flavor signs (Haunted Harvest Pumpkin and Sugar Cookie Spell).

For over 1,800 Halloween froyo images, visit IFYA’s Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/froyogirl/halloween-froyo-froyo-shop-decorations/

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.

Final Days of the National Frozen Yogurt Shop Owner Survey

 

Fro-yo girl here. Time is running out to be part of the National Frozen Yogurt Shop Owner Survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association. The survey is open to anyone who owns a business that serves frozen yogurt in the United States. Owners can sign up to receive the survey results while taking the survey. This year’s results will be compared to last year’s results and there are also new questions to capture the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Survey Purpose

The survey results will help froyo shop owners better understand how their shop compares to other shops and also to understand frozen yogurt industry trends. The survey includes questions about shop performance, satisfaction with suppliers, operational practices, management, etc. This year's survey was modified to take into account the impact of the coronavirus. The anonymous survey takes about 7 minutes to complete.

Take the survey: https://tinyurl.com/3rdfroyoshopsurvey

The survey closes at midnight PST on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

How to See the Results

Any shop owner who takes the National Frozen Yogurt Shop Owner survey will receive the results when they are available.

Suppliers and others who are interested in the results but do not own a frozen yogurt store can receive the survey results by sharing IFYA’s pinned Facebook (@froyoassociation) post about the survey, reposting the Instagram post about the survey (@intlfroyoassn) or retweeting the pinned survey tweet (@froyogirl).

Only foodservice business owners who participate in the current National Frozen Yogurt Shop Owner Survey, those who share the survey URL, and IFYA advisory board members will have free access to the full results of the shop owner survey. IFYA members will have free access to a limited set of results.

The survey results should be available in mid-November.

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.

Farewell, Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt

Blush Dublin

Pumpkin froyo from Blush

Fro-yo girl here. Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt is gone, a part of froyo history now. The first location which opened in Dublin, CA in June 2008, was also the last to close. The closing announcement was posted on May 13, 2020. I’m still in shock even though in truth, Blush wasn’t as good as it used to be (probably because the original owner, Jonathan, sold the business). I’ll never have Blush green tea, pumpkin, original tart, and Blush froyo again.

I’ve written many posts about Blush over the years and used to talk to Jonathan all the time (Jonathan, I hope you’re doing well). I was at the grand opening of Blush in Milpitas, Walnut Creek, Burlingame (Frank even let me see the shop before it opened), and San Francisco (also owned by Frank). Jonathan’s customers became his franchisees because they loved the froyo that much. Here’s a story of how they got started that I wrote in 2009.

Jonathan created his own flavors and was an innovator. His passion is what was so infectious during the early years of Blush. 

Other Blush locations (year opened - year closed):

• Milpitas, 2009 – 2013, first franchise location
• San Francisco, 2009 - 2013
• Burlingame, 2010-2019
• Walnut Creek, 2010 - 2017
• Pleasanton, 2015 – 2020, first self-serve Blush

Nothing can ever replace the old Blush…but I still have lots of memories.

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.

Frozen Yogurt, Past & Present in Berkeley, CA

Photo by Danster L., Yelp

Fro-yo girl here. How time flies and froyo scenes change…this is particularly true for Berkeley, CA which had such a huge froyo scene years ago. I named Berkeley as one of the best cities for froyo in 2008. At that time, I wrote: “4. Berkeley - started out strong with Ryno's, Yogurt Harmony, Papamingo and Michelle's Yogurt but new fro-yo shops have been slow to open. Of course, Berkeley will forever be known as the home of Yogurt Park (known affectionately as YoPa). Though they specialize in soft serve ice cream, Sketch has fabulous tart fro-yo. The new year should see the arrival of Tuttimelon and other shops.”

Of the businesses mentioned in that post, only Yogurt Park is still around. As the oldest froyo business in the Bay Area, Yogurt Park opened in 1977, long before the second wave of froyo. Menchie’s the only other froyo shop left in Berkeley. Freshens is still open but I’m not sure if they still offer froyo (they might). Tuttimelon never opened in Berkeley. Pinkberry abandoned its plans to open in Berkeley. The chains were slow to arrive in Berkeley.

My favorite place to get tart froyo in the early days was Yogurt Harmony. I named it as one of my top 10 Bay Area froyo shops in 2008. Their froyo didn’t taste like the froyo from every other place. The tart yogurt was denser and creamier. It was counter served in eco-friendly cups.

Berkeley froyo shops and non-froyo shops that served froyo:

• Berkeley Bowl West: When Berkeley Bowl West first opened in 2009, the store café carried organic soft serve froyo from Straus. I’m not sure how long it was offered – not too long, I think.
• Bette’s To Go, 2009-2011?: The popular Berkeley 4th St. Marina deli started serving Straus organic plain froyo around 2009. I’m not sure how long they served it but they did stop serving froyo at some point and they’re still open.
• Blondie’s Pizza, 2008-2013: Blondie’s Pizza had been open for decades before they started serving froyo in 2008. They served froyo until 2013, when the froyo was replaced by ice cream sandwiches. It was counter serve and not very good but their pizza wasn’t so great either. College students ate there because it was cheap, fast, and close.
• Buona Vita, 2016-2017: Nice gelato and self-serve froyo shop that also served baked goods
• Freshens on the UCB campus, 2011-present: Freshens was remodelled in 2011, which is when they added froyo machines. UCB students don’t have to leave campus to get froyo with Freshens in the food court and they can use their meal plan points.
• Frozen Creations, 2009-2012: Self-serve froyo shop, had lots of tart flavors
• Honeyberry, 2013-2015: This was chain known for freshly baked roti buns, but they offered much more like snow cups, smoothies, gelato, milk tea, and coffee.
• Menchie’s, 2013-present
• Michelle’s Yogurt & Sweets, 1997: This candy shop across the street from Yogurt Park was the first tart froyo in Berkeley back in 2007. They stopped serving froyo before closing for good in 2015.
• Papamingo, 2007-2011: An early counter serve froyo shop specializing in tart froyo, Papamingo definitely had some loyal fans. People say that it went downhill after the management changed.
• The Pho Bar, 2011-2014: The plain tart froyo was made with Sketch Ice Cream’s recipe.
• Ryno’s, 2007-2009: A tiny shop on Telegraph that was taken over by other froyo shops (Honeyberry, Tutti Frutti) and now it’s a boba tea shop called Rare Tea.
• Sketch Ice Cream, closed, then reopened in 2012-2014: A beloved artisanal soft serve ice cream spot with house-baked goods and a great plain tart froyo which was later served by the Pho Bar
• Tutti Frutti, 2011-2013: Tutti Frutti replaced Ryno’s. Though the space was small, they still offered self-serve froyo and the cheapest price in town, 29 cents an ounce
• Yogofina, 2016-2017: This self-serve chain had consistently terrible frozen yogurt and lots of candy toppings.
• Yogurt Harmony, 2008-2011: My favorite place in Berkeley, RIP
• Yogurt Park, 1977-present: The first place that I ever had froyo!
• Yogurtland Bancroft, 2009-2017: This was the smaller location across the street from UCB with fewer machines. The one on Shattuck was bigger and better.
• Yogurtland Shattuck, 2009-2017: The better Yogurtland location in Berkeley.
• Yoloberry, 2014-2016: This was the second location for Yoloberry, which started in Davis, CA.

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 Speaks Blogiversary Number 12

 

Fro-yo girl here. Twelve years, on October 20, 2008, I posted my first blog post on Fro-yo Girl Speaks. Here’s a quick overview of what I’ve been up to over the past year. The year started out like the others with plenty of National Frozen Yogurt Day and froyo Valentine’s Day promotions. But then everything changed in mid-March.

Like most people, the coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed my life. I don’t go out as much as I used to and I haven’t been able to visit as many froyo shops as I’d like. Froyo activity has slowed as well – fewer new flavors, fewer new spoons, fewer shop openings. The only grand opening that I’ve attended this year was Razzle Dazzle’s in Upland, California. I haven’t found any new froyo place to rave about but that's because hardly any new ones have opened.

I’m relieved that I was able to sell my extra froyo spoons on eBay. I sold hundreds of froyo spoons. Yay! I’ve been busy eating boba ice cream bars and Yasso Chocolate Dipped Bars. Mr. Froyo will only eat froyo from Yoga-urt now.

And for some good news, the Gossip Girl reboot has been given the green light, with a new story and new cast. The release date on HBO Max has yet to be announced. Kristen Bell will be back as the narrator.

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.

I-Mei Milk Ice Bars from Taiwan

Fro-yo girl here. I found I-Mei’s Green Tea & Red Bean Milky Ice Bar and Red Bean Milk Ice Bar at 99 Ranch Market in Arcadia, CA. They were on sale, 2 boxes for $7 (regular price, $4.89 per box). These aren’t boba bars but I like them better than boba bars. Each box comes with 5 individually wrapped bars, imported from Taiwan.

Red bean milk ice bar: If you’ve ever had Chinese red bean milk, this bar will taste familiar. The ingredients are similar – water, red beans, sugar, milk. One bar is 88g, 160 calories, 6g total fat, 23g total carbs, 11g total sugars, and 5g protein. If you like red bean milk drinks, you’ll like the red bean milk ice bar. It was firm and on the icier side but not watery. I liked how it was packed full of sweet whole red beans. It was sweet but not crazy sweet and the iciness made it refreshing. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Green tea & red bean milky ice bar: So good. I love green tea, red bean and the combination of the two. Half the bar was sweet cream flavored and the other half green tea with tiny pieces of red bean. The bar was softer and creamier than the red bean ice milk bar. I could definitely taste the green tea and red bean, plus the two sides were complementary. So good! I'm getting more of these. One 88g bar had 180 calories, 9g total fat, 21g total carbs, 20g total sugars and 3g protein. 5 out of 5 stars.

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.

Holsom by Yogurtland Concept Revealed

 

Fro-yo girl here. Thanks to my obsessive internet froyo research, I was the first to write about the new Holsom by Yogurtland concept. The official announcement from Yogurtland followed a few weeks later. My guess that they would soon launch a new concept was correct. Holsom by Yogurtland is expected to open in mid-November at 7598 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92647. This is the site of a current Yogurtland shop, one that will be remodeled and become Holsom by Yogurtland.

Holsom by Yogurtland will provide healthy, delicious and affordable grain bowls, sweet and savory goumet toasts, handcrafted beverages and Yogurtland’s frozen yogurt. Some of the menu items will include Everything Egg Toast, Roasted Tomato Basil Toast, Southwest Crunch Toast, made-to-order grain bowl flavors such as Classic, Thai Peanut, Greek and Chipotle Southwest, Ricotta & Berry Toast with fresh blueberries, and customizable sweet bowls such as Strawberry Banana Granola or Peanut Butter with acai and sweetened chia pudding as base options. The menu will also feature handcrafted beverages such as Strawberry Lemonade Fresca, Strawberry Mint Sparkler and Pineapple Green Tea. Sounds good. Who doesn’t like grain bowls and fancy toasts? The bread has to be really good though.

Keep up with what’s going on at Holsom by Yogurtland on Facebook and Instagram.

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.