Yog, the frozen yogurt chain, is continuing its UK expansion with a focus on the north of England while also preparing to open its first sites under franchise in Dubai and Kenya.
The company’s agreement with Odeon in the UK “will continue to expand” according to Es Salih, who founded the company in 2007 with Rebecca McGuire. The agreement will see around 20 more Yogs opening within Odeons in the next 18 months as opportunities within the cinemas arise.
Salih said the company is hoping to expand more in to the north of England, highlighting Liverpool, Leeds and York as potential locations as well as a second store in Manchester.
He said the demographics of a town are important when choosing locations that match the “young, vibrant, healthy” image of frozen yogurt.
The Ashford-based company is targeting the south east of England to open another two company owned stores within the next year.
Salih told M&C Report the first franchise store is opening in Kenya in the next few weeks as part of a deal to open 11 sites in the next 18 months.
Meanwhile Yog is finalising a deal in Dubai that is similar to its deal with Odeon in the UK to open 20 stores within existing businesses. The first will open in the first quarter next year and will include five stand-alone stores also.
Yog has a presence in Dubai in the take home market which will be increased with the addition of two more retailers stocking the frozen yogurt.
He said the group has been preparing for its international brand expansion for some time by increasing its production capabilities, growing the dairy and building the supply chain.
The group is also in discussions with franchisees in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to increase the international presence as well as increase the availability of Yog products through retail outlets in Spain and the Netherlands.
