llaollao (pronounced yao yao) is the largest frozen yogurt chain in its home country of Spain, with over 100 locations in Spain. It’s also the largest European frozen yogurt franchise in the world. The first location opened in Spain in 2009. Currently, there are over 200 stores in 27 countries on four continents. In November 2018, llaollao opened the first US location at The Galleria Mall in Houston, Texas.
We recently spoke to Hang Pham, who opened the Houston llaollao location with her husband, Halim Elsaadi, to learn more about the new business and their experiences.
What makes llaollao unique?
According to Hang, llaollao frozen yogurt tastes fresher, less processed, and more like real yogurt. The product has about half the sugar typically found in frozen yogurt and is low in calories. It’s creamier and less icy. The signature original/plain flavor is well-balanced and tangy. The unique, proprietary flavor is among the best in the world.
The llaollao concept is counter serve. The yogurt comes in three sizes (small, medium, large) with the option to add fresh fruit, crunches (crunchy toppings) and premium Spanish sauces like dulce de leche, Nocilla (hazelnut), wild strawberries, white chococrock (white chocolate with coconut), honey, mango, dark chocolate, pistachio, etc. The smaller number of offerings makes choosing a less overwhelming experience. It’s a premium product, but the price is fair. You know what you’re getting – a simple, high quality, healthy product.
llaollao Houston is a kiosk and a Petitllaollao location, meaning the menu is not as broad as a full-size llaollao location. Petitllaollao locations serve frozen yogurt and toppings. Full-size locations serve waffles, smoothies, slushes, fondue, and other products.
The process of opening the first llaollao location in the US
Hang and Halim were working overseas when she first tried and fell in love with llaollao in 2016 in Malaysia. When they became interested in opening an eatery in the US, they explored a variety of concepts. They wanted to bring something unique to the Houston area. They ultimately chose llaollao because they learned that llaollao is a family owned business with a hands-on management team that was supportive of its franchisees. llaollao was also very interested in entering the US market.
Since llaollao had no presence in the US at the time, it took a year to get the necessary approvals to import llaollao’s dairy products into the US. The process involved registration, getting FDA approval, and obtaining dairy certificates for customs. Representatives from the Spanish headquarters of llaollao visited the US twice, to help with determining the location of the shop and to ensure that the quality of the new location met llaollao’s standards.
The frozen yogurt at the Houston location is made with local skim milk and local yogurt combined with the imported base flavoring provided by llaollao. llaollao helped identify the local products that would most closely replicate llaollao frozen yogurt.
What have you learned since opening?
The frozen yogurt business is highly competitive in the US. Not everyone is looking for the same thing when it comes to frozen yogurt. They’ve found that not everyone loves their plain frozen yogurt, but it’s well-liked by families and the more health-conscious consumer. It helps that The Galleria is an upscale mall, since it draws people who favor premium products.
They’ve gained traction by tapping into the Houston foodie network and through using Instagram.
What are your future plans for llaollao?
Hang and Halim want to share their yogurt with more people, believing that people who try llaollao will be hooked. They are currently exploring the idea of adding a food truck.
Find llaollao at the Galleria Mall, 5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX. Follow @llaollao_houston on Instagram.
