TCBY Frozen Yogurt Coming to Grocers’ Freezers

TCBY has entered into a licensing partnership with Spring Creek Holdings for a new line of pre-packaged frozen yogurt, TCBYGrocery, to be sold at about 10,000 stores nationwide, including national retailers like Wal-Mart and Super Target and regional banners including A&P, Stop N Shop, Food Lion and Giant.

Mrs. Fields Famous Brands, which owns TCBY and Mrs. Fields Cookies, has a solid history of licensing agreements within the grocery market.

“This is a pivotal time for the TCBY brand,” said Tim Casey, the company’s president and CEO. “Consumers express the need for a variety of healthy indulgences when visiting their local grocery stores, and as the frozen yogurt category leader, increasing our footprint in grocery brings TCBY into the home. Having an established licensing partner in the food service industry such as Spring Creek Holdings, reaffirms our category leadership and benefits the brand and our franchise base."

Increasing awareness of health and nutrition issues has caused a shift toward healthier dessert alternatives like frozen yogurt. The frozen yogurt industry has been growing at an annual rate of 4.3 percent and is projected to remain stable as health-conscious consumers and new markets drive growth. Research recently conducted by Spring Creek Holdings shows that frozen yogurt shoppers are currently disappointed with the selection at many local retailers, and would like more variety in healthier frozen yogurt options.

“In more than 20 years in this category, developing the TCBY frozen yogurt product line for retail locations is the most exciting program I have ever been involved in,” said Jerry Isaacson, president and CEO of Spring Creek Holdings, North American licensee of the TCBY brand. “TCBY holds a place as an iconic brand in our consumer consciousness and I'm thrilled we are partnering to bring delicious frozen yogurt to consumers who love the brand and introduce it to our next generation.”

Barrington, Ill.-based Spring Creek Holdings will produce the following flavors under the TCBY label: Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Mint Chocolate Chunk, Toffee Crunch, Cookie Dough, Cookies & Cream, Very Berry Strawberry and Mango Peach. The eight flavors will be released this month in pints and quarts of hard-pack frozen yogurt, as well as a variety of novelties including frozen yogurt sandwiches and bars at select nationwide retailers, with additional exclusive innovations to follow later this year.

Salt Lake City-based TCBY – “The Country's Best Yogurt” – has been a frozen yogurt innovator since opening its first shop in Little Rock, Ark., in 1981 and now operates more than 600 locations in the United States and abroad.