News

Orange Leaf FroYo enters China

May 28, 2014

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt announced it will open its first stores in China sometime this year. The first two stores will be located in Shanghai and were secured through a master franchise agreement with a group of Chinese investors that has committed to opening 100 stores across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau in the coming years.

According to a news release, demand for froyo is growing fast in the China market. A recent study by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy found that dairy production and consumption has been growing at a rate of 12.8 percent annually since 2000. The country's dairy consumption is anticipated to increase 38 percent by 2022.

All China Orange Leafs will feature self-service froyo machines and a variety of toppings. They will also include locally-sourced Chinese toppings to cater to regional tastes, the release said. Once development is underway, Orange Leaf will develop Asian-inspired flavors and additional toppings.

"Capitalizing on the continued migration from rural to urban living and the increase in disposable income, coupled with a demand for self-serve and customization in China, we are confident that there is going to be great demand for Orange Leaf's frozen yogurt in this region," CEO Reese Travis said. "We plan to be nimble, catering to the tastes of our newest audience, and learning which flavor profiles and toppings are most successful. To date, few American frozen yogurt companies have successfully broken into this market, but with 100 committed stores in the pipeline, we are confident that Orange Leaf can fill this void."