Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Regions Central Virginia Frozen yogurt shops take off with more expansion planned in 2014

Frozen yogurt shops take off with more expansion planned in 2014

Published November 27, 2013 by M.J. McAteer

The frozen yogurt chain now has 300 stores.
Photo by Mark Rhodes

The proper name for a group of frogs is “an army,” and army is an apt way to describe the swelling ranks of one of Virginia’s biggest retail success stories in recent years, sweetFrog.

The frozen yogurt chain started as a single location in the Short Pump area of Richmond in 2009. Derek Cha and his wife, Annah Kim, believed that they could fill a vacant niche in the market, and they were right. 

In less than five years, sweetFrogs have appeared in 28 states, Great Britain and the Dominican Republic. The company now has 300 corporate, licensed and franchised stores (franchise fee: $30,000) with 82 in the Old Dominion alone. According to the company, in 2012 the average monthly net sales for a sample of its stores was $54,902. 

James Denison, who does public relations for sweetFrog, credits the yogurt chain’s phenomenal growth to two factors.

First, he says, it offers a quality product. Customers at the self-serve, sold-by-weight shops can pick from 20 flavors of frozen yogurt, ranging from tried-and-true chocolate to quirky maple bacon donut. The store’s 50 toppings include mango poppers, cheesecake bites and, of course, gummy frogs.

But just as important to the chain’s success, says Denison, is its family values. “Frog” is an acronym for “fully rely on God.” The sweetFrog chain puts that sentiment into action by participating in food drives and sponsoring charitable events. Mascots Scoop and Cookie visit children’s hospitals and make appearances at local fundraisers.  “We want to be there for our community,” Denison says.

That community continues to expand. The company now is marching into New England and the Great Lakes region and reportedly is eyeing South America for its next overseas theater of operations.

Kermit may have been right when he said that it wasn’t easy being green, but, for frozen yogurt entrepreneur Derek Cha, it can be lucrative.

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

New apartments planned for Chesterfield, Richmond

Central Virginia tract fetches $3.6 million

WestPark Shopping Center in Henrico County sells for $33.3 million

Trending

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Making strides

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Making strides

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk