Yogurtland

Yogurtland is a self-serve frozen yogurt concept that operates and franchises dessert shops across the United States and select international markets. Guests customize their own frozen yogurt, soft-serve, and plant-based treats, choose from a wide toppings bar, and pay by weight, which keeps the experience familiar and easy to understand across locations. Stores are typically small-format inline units in neighborhood centers, grocery-anchored centers, lifestyle centers, and other daily needs retail, where consistent local traffic and repeat visits are important.

The company was founded in 2006 by Phillip Chang, who opened the first Yogurtland in Fullerton, California. From that single shop, the brand rode the self-serve frozen yogurt wave of the late 2000s and early 2010s and expanded to more than 300 locations at its peak, including units in the United States, Mexico, Guam, and multiple Asia-Pacific markets. A key milestone in its growth came in 2011, when new development agreements accelerated the chain’s entry into Texas and the Southeast. Another important step was its move into major international cities such as Tokyo and Bangkok in the mid‑2010s, working with master franchise partners to build a presence overseas.

As of October 2024, Yogurtland has more than 200 locations systemwide. The footprint is still anchored in California and the broader western United States, with additional stores in markets such as Texas, New York, and Florida, along with a smaller but established base in Asia and Latin America. The system includes both company-operated and franchised units. The menu has evolved beyond traditional frozen yogurt to include rotating ice cream and plant-based flavors, keeping the core self-serve model while broadening appeal across age groups and dietary preferences.

Over roughly the last five years, Yogurtland’s strategy has shifted from rapid unit growth to disciplined, selective expansion and stronger performance from existing stores. The company continues to franchise and is actively promoting new development in California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, the Pacific Northwest, and select East Coast metropolitan areas. Current growth is oriented toward dense suburban and urban trade areas where an inline dessert shop can benefit from existing daytime activity and capture evening and weekend traffic. At the same time, Yogurtland has invested in digital ordering, third-party delivery, and limited-time flavors to help smooth out seasonality, drive off-peak visits, and build more consistent year-round business.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Yogurtland represents a recognizable frozen dessert tenant with a compact, flexible inline footprint that works in a variety of multi-tenant configurations. The concept tends to draw family and group visits, is geared toward evening and weekend occasions, and complements restaurant and grocery anchors by adding a dessert and snack destination to the merchandising mix. As a privately held brand based in Irvine, California, with an active franchising program and a long track record in neighborhood and grocery-anchored environments, Yogurtland can contribute steady small-shop activity without requiring large-format space.