Top 4 Frozen Yogurt Franchises in the UK

If you’re a business-minded entrepreneur with an undeniable sweet tooth, why not consider starting your own frozen yogurt business via a franchise investment? Running a frozen yogurt franchise, you’ll benefit from a huge amount of consumer demand for your products AND a huge amount of franchisor support, helping you to attain lasting success. Read on, and discover four of the best frozen yogurt franchise opportunities currently available to you.

With an increasing number of customers on the hunt for desserts that are delicious without being too unhealthy and calorific [Mintel], there’s never been a better moment at which to launch a frozen yogurt franchise in the UK. This lighter alternative to ice cream is becoming more and more popular, and if you think you have what it takes to run a successful dessert franchise, it might be a highly profitable and highly suitable avenue of investment for you.

What is a frozen yogurt shop?

As you might have guessed, a frozen yogurt shop primarily specialises in the sale of frozen yogurt desserts. Frozen yogurt is a popular alternative to ice cream, often containing less fat and sugar. If you choose to make a career change with a dessert franchise and become the owner of a frozen yogurt (sometimes stylised as ‘FroYo’) franchise, you’ll be providing customers with a plethora of tasty flavours and toppings. You might even serve ice cream and other sweet treats too! 

Within the past few decades, another option has emerged from icy dessert depths: frozen yogurt. This sweet treat is often touted as a more health-conscious option thanks to its lower sugar, fat, and carbohydrate content. Plus, FroYo is a fantastic dessert for those with lactose allergies.
- Frozen Dessert Supplies

Why start a frozen yogurt franchise?

There are many different reasons to consider launching a frozen yogurt business as a franchisee, some of which have already been touched on above. Most primarily, FroYo is a popular and expanding niche of the dessert industry, and starting a frozen yogurt franchise would see you entering a growth industry with plenty of franchisor support, training and guidance. Plus, since this is a growing niche, you’ll find there are many different opportunities to explore as you find your franchise fit and identify the perfect dessert franchise for you.

The 4 best frozen yogurt franchises in the UK

With a clear understanding of what a frozen yogurt business does and why now is the perfect time to venture into this growing sub-sector of the thriving dessert industry, it’s time to explore some of the best opportunities currently available to you. If you dream of selling tasty frozen treats to your customers, the franchise businesses listed below are some of your best options...

1. Yolé

Yolé is a healthy frozen yogurt and ice cream brand which enables customers to enjoy low-calorie delicious desserts. There are a few different investment options with this franchise, from low-cost food truck models to complete restaurant units.

• Becoming a Yolé franchisee: You should be ambitious and driven, with a passion for food and restaurant operations. You will need a proven track record of successfully growing a business with the financial capacity to develop a territory 
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £50,000, with franchise fees of £20,000 and advertising and royalty fees charged at 3% and 7% respectively.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll receive a comprehensive programme of initial training and plenty of ongoing support from the operations teams, including regular store visits and continued training and development opportunities.

2. Baskin Robbins

Baskin Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins. The brand's trademarked “31” stands for the different flavours of ice cream available for each day of the month. Today, the franchise has more than 150 stores in the UK, and continues to grow with each passing year.

• Becoming a Baskin Robbins franchisee: You’ll need experience in negotiating and sourcing real estate in a given market. You should also have experience in multi-unit QSR management, and in the retail and/or food service industry.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £500,000, with an advertising fee charged at 2%.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll receive intensive training approved by certified professionals (covering operations, management systems, food safety and more). You’ll then benefit from ongoing support, including quarterly franchise meetings.

3. Shakeaway

Shakeaway is the world’s largest milkshake bar company and the original re-inventor of the milkshake, ‘shaking’ since 1999. With stores all over the world, this fast-growing dessert franchise is widely loved across the UK and beyond.

• Becoming a Shakeaway franchisee: You don’t need previous experience in the industry, but you will need excellent business sense and plenty of confidence. For Shakeaway, the right skills always trump the right background.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £40,000, with franchise fees of £25,000, a total investment cost of £100,000 and a royalty fee charged at 9%.
• What you get for your investment: From social media support to initial training to help with the set-up of your premier website and the marketing of your location, you’ll always be able to access franchisor assistance as and when you need it.

4. Incredible Ice Cream Company

Incredible Ice Cream Company is a thriving franchise that sets up mobile ice cream bars in high footfall areas and caters for private, public and corporate events across the UK. Many customers have found and loved IICC, and all without the need for expensive high street premises.

• Becoming an Incredible Ice Cream Company franchisee: If you’re an ice cream lover with great customer service skills and a willingness to always be working in new environments, you’re likely perfect for Incredible Ice Cream Company.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £9,500 - £24,000 (depending on the model you choose), with franchise fees of £360. 
• What you get for your investment: You’ll benefit from a comprehensive training scheme and all the consumables you need, from ice cream and sprinkles to sauces and flakes. You’ll have access to ongoing franchisor support as and when you need it.

Enter the thriving dessert sector as a franchisee and enjoy all the perks of running your own business

Hopefully, you now have a sense of just how many opportunities are out there and waiting for you in the frozen yoghurt sector and the wider chilled desserts industry. If you're increasingly set on an investment, stick around on Point Franchise to continue your research and prepare for the launch of your dessert business. Discover seven tips for running a dessert franchise, five tips for marketing a dessert franchise and much, much more.