Spoon Me Frozen Yogurt

Spoon Me was founded in 2007, with the first store opening in Salt Lake City that same year.[2] Founders Ryan Combe and Bub Hatch were inspired by the emergence of existing yogurt franchises across the US, Combe saying he “loved some of the products, but just having a good product is not enough.[3]" He and co-founder David James came up with the idea of marketing their stores as an engaging social experience.[3]

The company began opening franchises in 2008, with the first franchise location in Sandy, purchased by Combe's aunt.[4] Spoon Me began its expansion to Canada in 2009, with the opening of a franchised store in Calgary.[5] Combe has declared plans to open more franchised stores in Canada, focusing on Vancouver and Alberta.[6] The company opened their first New Jersey store, also franchised, in 2010. This was the first Spoon Me store to serve smoothies and fruit juice in addition to yogurt.[7]

In 2009, Spoon Me was number 20 on the Utah Entrepreneurial Forum's (UVEF) list of "Top 25 Under Five" companies.[8]

Spoon Me offers frozen yogurt, smoothies, juices, waffles and oatmeal. The company serves over 30 flavours of frozen yogurt, with at least 10 flavours available at each location. All flavours are fat-free, gluten free, and refined sugar-free. The yogurt contains very few calories, and has no artificial flavours, sweeteners, or colours.[9] Customers can choose their own yogurt flavour at self-serve stations, and mix in their own toppings. There are 40 toppings to choose from, ranging from candies and cookies to fruit. Spoon Me frozen yogurt is priced by weight, at 30 to 40 cents per ounce.[9]

Spoon Me offers about 15 kinds of smoothie.[10] The smoothies have a frozen yogurt base, using either natural, green tea, or açaí yogurt.[10] Customers can also add soy protein, multivitamins, energy, vitamin C, smart blend and many other nutritional supplements to their smoothie.[10]

All of Spoon Me's bowls and spoons are biodegradable and edible, made from corn starch.[11]

Spoon Me's name was created by EatMyWords, a naming firm based in San Francisco. Spoon Me has gone on to use its name as a centerpiece in its marketing through t-shirts, bumper stickers and other merchandise.

Spoon Me looks to appeal to customers 16–30 years old. Spoon Me stores are always playing loud music, and are designed to be a social place for employees and customers alike.[3] Employees are encouraged to be themselves, and speak naturally to customers.

Spoon Me uses technology relevant to their target audience for marketing strategies. Their main tactic is the Spoon Me iPhone app, which sends customers special offers when they enter any Spoon Me location.[12] Spoon Me also sells branded apparel, featuring the company's logo and related tongue-in-cheek phrases.[13]

• List of frozen yogurt companies

• SpoonMe.com