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Being quick to adapt to changing consumer needs is a hallmark of business ingenuity. Americans love variety at a great value and that’s why self serve frozen yogurt shops are so popular now. With those two statements in mind, isn’t it peculiar that Pinkberry, the indisputable market leader, has held firm to the full service model? Their public relations staff claims that they want to provide “20 minutes of fun” and an unparalleled customer service experience; is that just lip service or are they afraid of raising the stakes?
Updating their business model to include self service shops would be beneficial for their “groupies” (loyal customers) in the following ways:
- It would reduce the legendary peak waiting times for checkout.
- Weigh & Pay: create your cup of “swirly goodness,” add toppings and pay by the ounce. No more complaints about über-stingy counter staff or hollow spots in the cup.
- More soft serve machines usually equals more yogurt variety. This would spur the Research & Development team to create new flavors and retrieve exiled seasonal ones from the Flavor Vault frequently.
- Better topping choices to pair with the newer yogurt flavors.
Ultimately, the franchisees would save money due to a streamlined workforce and gain patrons from inferior fro-yo shops. Most of the menu items (parfaits, fruit bowls and yogurt cups) can be made by the consumer with one exception: smoothies. The easiest solution would be to craft a manned in-house smoothie bar and all the bases are covered. Even the industry’s second largest company, Red Mango, has embraced the self service philosophy after a corporate restructuring.
We’re living in a different economic landscape than the freewheeling days of Pinkberry’s infancy. There are tougher decisions to be made with each dollar earned and most merchants have felt the pain of tight purse strings. While their P.R. people can romanticize about smiley faces and frozen works of art, consumers are gravitating toward competitive pricing & a greater selection rather than the same stagnant hype.
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Bucking the Trend or Foolish Bravado?
March 14th, 2012 | Posted in UpdatesFroyo and Dieting
January 30th, 2012 | Posted in UpdatesJanuary is almost over, but we hope your New Year’s resolutions are still ongoing. Two of the most prevalent resolutions every year are to eat healthier and lose weight. Thankfully, Wicked Spoon can help on both fronts without sacrificing taste. With more than 30 rotating flavors and many toppings ranging from fresh fruit to sheer decadence, we can keep you on the right track!
Here’s the lowdown: All of our flavors (frozen yogurts & sorbets) are certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union. Our tart flavored yogurt varieties are non-fat and 100% natural. Best of all, every yogurt flavor contains between 300 – 400 million beneficial live and active cultures per gram. Research has shown that those cultures aid in digestion and break down lactose. Ultimately, they allow the lactose intolerant population to eat yogurt with lesser side effects.
Plus, we won’t sabotage the diet plans of Weight Watchers members. The following are PointsPlus® values for small cups of our most popular flavors:
2 points: Original Tart, Ginger Lemonade Sorbet
3 points: Pomegranate, Chocolate, New York Cheesecake, Cookies & Cream, Peach Mango Tart
4 points: Red Velvet Cake
We’re aware of how hard it can be to exercise consistently and eat right while working/attending school/et cetera. However, with a little determination and our calcium-rich treats, you’ll achieve that goal before the next “Auld Lang Syne” sing-along!
Submit your Wicked Idea online or by email.
Be Wicked! We dare you!
Frozen Yogurt During Winter
January 27th, 2012 | Posted in Updates|
Although the weather has been mild thus far, you can’t deny that Old Man Winter is here. For some people, thoughts of hot chocolate waft through their minds. At Wicked Spoon, however, we’re focusing on unique seasonal toppings for our frozen yogurt and parfaits. Crazy? Nope, we’re just like most red-blooded Americans when the weather cools off.
Contrary to popular belief, frozen yogurt is in high demand even as temperatures decline. Various independent studies have shown that America’s favorite frozen desserts (frozen yogurt and ice cream) are consumed in large quantities during late autumn and throughout winter. There may not be long lines streaming out of your local fro-yo joint or scoop shop, but the sales are remaining steady. Where are these frozen treats being consumed, you may ask? At home, of course. Bulk purchases (pints and half-gallons) are being enjoyed after dinner, whilst watching TV, or at social gatherings.
In our highly globalized world, it’s rare to find foods that are ever out of season. As a result, we can have ripe strawberries, bananas and an assortment of fruits during frigid February. Perhaps, that has affected how we perceive frozen yogurt as an anytime treat. Whether you want to satisfy a sweet craving or fight against the winter blues, we’ll be ready to swirl up a little taste of summer sunshine!
Be Wicked! We dare you! |
Why Did You Leave Park Slope?
January 13th, 2012 | Posted in UpdatesWhy Did You Leave Park Slope?
We’re asked that question often and the answer is simple: It was the right time. The co-habitation at 321 9th Street was a temporary arrangement as we attempted to procure our own space.
Like any start-up business owner, you try to find an affordable space quickly to get your product noticed. As the business and your dreams blossom, so does the yearning for a bigger and better location. Park Slope will always be in our hearts and we will return eventually. However, the overall Wicked Spoon ambiance wouldn’t have been fully realized in our previous retail location.
The past few months were utilized to open more corporate and university locales, but we haven’t forgotten about the public at large. Soon, New York’s Upper West Side will have its’ collective palate re-invigorated once Wicked Spoon becomes available in a very cool cafe that will be opening soon. Full details (address, hours, etc.) are forthcoming and will be posted accordingly.
Last, but not least, thank you to all of our Park Slope patrons, especially those from the YMCA, New York Sports Club, UPS and the NYPD. It was a pleasure to serve each and every one of you. Please take care until we meet again.
Submit your Wicked Idea online or by email.
Be Wicked! We dare you!
Wicked Spoon Yogurt Expands into Food Service
August 1st, 2011 | Posted in Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2011
CONTACT: Alex Rozhitsky, 646-335-2890, media@wickedspoonyogurt.com
Wicked Spoon Yogurt Expands into Food Service
Wicked Spoon Yogurt Now Available On College Campuses and Corporate Cafeterias
New York City, New York – August, 2011- Wicked Spoon Yogurt has teamed up with Compass Group and it’s varies divisions to offer Wicked Spoon Yogurt. The first location launched within the Student Union at University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL, which is run by Chartwells. In addition, employees of Credit Suisse in Manhattan, NY can now enjoy Wicked Spoon Yogurt. These two locations are self-serve locations allowing customers to grab a cup, fill their cup with frozen yogurt and varies toppings, paying by the ounce.
“We have received excellent feed back from Compass Group and its customers. “ says Alex Rozhitsky, Founder and President of Wicked Spoon Yogurt. We are very excited to have this opportunity to team up with Compass Group. I believe this will allow us to build brand awareness much faster than planned. We plan on expanding our product offering to include our all fruit smoothie menu.
Wicked Spoon currently has two mobile applications; Yogurt Toss the first interactive yogurt game and a mobile menu & location app allowing customers stay up-to-date with the latest frozen yogurt and topping offering.
About Wicked Spoon
Be Wicked! We dare you!
Reinventing the frozen yogurt experience, Wicked Spoon is raising the standard and appealing to the foodie in all of us. At Wicked Spoon Yogurt, we wanted to be able to offer healthy great tasting frozen yogurt with an edge. We’ve done just that. Wicked Spoon Yogurt has a wide arrange of flavors in non-fat, low fat, sugar-free, and non-dairy options. What makes Wicked Spoon stand out is its combo options ranging from traditional seasonal fruit to granola to the wickedest, most delicious topping combinations you ever dreamed of like Apple Pie frozen yogurt topped with Bourbon Glazed Bacon & Pecan’s! Wicked Spoon frozen yogurt is 100% all-natural, gluten free, kosher and filled with yogurt’s beneficial live and active cultures.
Wicked Spoon Yogurt is offered at multiple locations in multiple states, please visit www.WickedSpoon.com for the full list of locations.
Twitter: @wickedspoon
Facebook page: /wickedspoon
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Our signature combinations help to make ordering easier!
July 13th, 2011 | Posted in Updates
We’ve spent countless hours in the Wicked Lab: sampling new flavors, considering possible taste & texture matches and, of course, snapping pics in those spiffy white lab coats!
Yelp Elite Squad member says….
July 12th, 2011 | Posted in Updates
Thank you Tenka, for introducing me to some wicked good fro yo!… Can’t wait to go back.”
-Christina F., Yelp Elite Squad ‘11
It’s true… folks love us on Yelp.
July 12th, 2011 | Posted in Updates
What’s not to love? Click on the above pic to bask in the fro-yomance!
If you like ice cream sandwiches, then you’ll love our yogurt-filled Whoopie Pies!
July 12th, 2011 | Posted in Updates
Here’s a delicious Red Velvet Whoopie Pie with non-fat Pomegranate frozen yogurt.
Video: Second Annual Wicked Spoon Yogurt Eating Contest…
July 10th, 2011 | Posted in UpdatesFootage from the Second Annual Wicked Spoon Yogurt Eating Contest… courtesy of the lovely Rachel Upbin!
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