The Year in Froyo Review, 2024 Edition

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For our last post of the year, we’d like to recap the significant froyo events of 2024.

Frozen Yogurt Industry Growth by Store Count

We’ve been tracking froyo openings (froyo shops and businesses that aren’t primarily froyo shops but serve soft serve froyo) and closings all year. In 2024, we found 679 new businesses that serve froyo in 55 countries. This was very similar to 2023, when we found 670 new businesses that served froyo in 60 countries. The most openings occurred in Asia, which accounted for 54% of the new openings, followed by North America with 21%, and Europe with 10%.

In terms of growth at the country level, the most openings occurred in the Philippines, with 123 openings, followed by the United States with 94, Indonesia with 74, and Australia with 56.

We also revealed the largest froyo chains in the world, based on how many locations they currently have. The big news is that Yoajung in South Korea is now the largest frozen yogurt chain in the world, with 564 locations. Llaollao surpassed Menchie’s to become the 2nd largest froyo chain in the world, and Menchie’s is now the third largest.

The top 10 largest frozen yogurt chains in the world accounted for approximately 2,267 locations, an increase of 16% (or 311 locations) since December 2023. We missed the growth of two froyo franchises in South Korea, Yoajung and Yogurt World, in previous years, so we don’t know how many locations each had in 2023. Yoajung and Yogurt World shops are counter-serve.

Most of the froyo franchises on our list shrank this year. Greenfrost closed 23 branches and fell out of the top 10, while Yogurt World and Yoajung joined the list for the first time. Sour Sally added 24 locations but fell out of the top 10 list.

Largest Froyo Chains by Location Count and Home Country

  1. Yoajung (South Korea): 564 locations
  2. Llaollao (Spain): 317 locations (+44 locations vs. December 2023)
  3. Menchie’s (United States): 316 locations (-10 locations vs. December 2023)
  4. SweetFrog (United States): 250 locations (no change (could not verify) from December 2023)
  5. Yogurtland (United States): 220 locations (no change (could not verify) from December 2023)
  6. Pinkberry (United States): 191 locations (-62 locations vs. December 2023)
  7. Yogurt World (South Korea): 161 locations
  8. Yogorino (Italy): 125 locations (- 14 locations vs. December 2023)
  9. Yogen Fruz (Canada): 123 locations (-28 locations vs. December 2023)
  10. TCBY  (United States): 123 locations (-16 locations vs. December 2023)

In California, the largest frozen yogurt market in the United States, 28 new froyo shops and shops that aren’t primarily froyo shops but serve froyo opened in 2024. This was less than the 41 new froyo businesses in 2023. Of the 28 new places for froyo in 2024, 19 are froyo shops, two are mobile froyo units, and seven are non-froyo shops that offer soft serve froyo.

This year, we found eleven new mobile froyo trucks and trailers, far less than the seventeen from last year. The US led the way, with six new froyo trucks and trailers. Australia, Colombia, the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain had one new truck or trailer each. In 2023, we found seven new froyo trucks and trailers in the US, taking the top spot for most new froyo trucks or trailers last year.

New Froyo Flavors and Flavor Trends

We’ve been tracking new froyo flavors all year and looking for flavor trends as well. This year we found 53 new froyo and froyo alternative flavors introduced by froyo chains. Last year, we found 69 new froyo and froyo alternative flavors.

Just like in 2023, Menchie’s and 16 Handles tied again for the most new flavor introductions, with nine each. Last year, they both introduced eleven new flavors. TCBY tied for the 3rd spot with seven new flavor introductions.

In 2024, new dairy-based frozen yogurt flavors accounted for 75% of the new 2024 flavors (compared to 61% in 2023). This continues the trend towards offering more dairy-based froyo flavors at froyo shops.

Of the non-froyo new flavors in 2024, we found eight new vegan (not sorbet) flavors (15% of new flavors), four new sorbet flavors (8% of new flavors, and one new ice cream flavor (2% of new flavors). This was comparable to last year, when we found 13 new non-dairy flavors (19% of new flavors), eight new sorbet flavors (12% of new flavors), one new ice cream flavor, two new Italian ice flavors, and 1 new gelato.

We also looked at which flavors were the most popular. Some new flavors are a combination of flavors, e.g., blueberry lavender, and would fit into two flavor categories, floral and fruit. Fruit flavors have been the most popular new flavor introductions over the past few years, and this was true for 2024 as well, with 46% of the new flavors including a fruit flavor. The next most popular flavor categories were baked goods (17% of new flavors), chocolate (15% of new flavors), and unbaked desserts (13%).

There were some very creative flavors. 16 Handles easily had the most creative new flavors this year. French fry froyo says it all.

IFYA News

This past September, we invited frozen yogurt consumers in the United States over 13 years old to participate in our annual online survey about frozen yogurt. Specifically, the survey was designed to measure loyalty, liking for major frozen yogurt chains, frozen yogurt preferences – including taste preferences, importance of froyo shop attributes, current and future consumption (including what might make them visit froyo shops more often), and purchasing habits.

We compared this year’s results with the results from previous years to look at trends over time.

We received 258 survey responses. Froyo shop visit frequency and loyalty were stable for the past few years, but we saw a few changes this year, including a large increase in the percentage of respondents who have reduced froyo consumption due to price (56% in 2024 vs. 37% in 2023). That’s the majority of respondents, for the first time. On a more positive note, 79% of respondents said they were willing to pay more for high quality froyo.

Respondents liked most of the major frozen chains in the US. When asked about their favorite shop, Yogurtland ranked #1, Pinkberry #2, and Menchie’s #3. The most important froyo shop attribute was a tie between quality froyo and great taste, followed by cleanliness and value.

We welcomed two new Swirl of Honor shops: Easy Breezy in Walnut Creek, California, and Yoga-urt in Granada Hills, California. Both earned three swirls, demonstrating the highest quality. The swirls are based on frozen yogurt quality, store cleanliness, superior customer service, and environmentally friendly business practices.

This year, our annual froyo contest, What Froyo Flavor Are You?, challenged froyo fans to come up with a flavor that best described them. The winner, IG @626.sad_girl.claire, selected Pineapple Power-Up sorbet” and won a prize of a Yum Crumbs sample pack and a froyo gift card.

Frozen Yogurt Industry Press Releases and News

This is a collection of press releases about frozen yogurt released in 2024.