The New Cool Choice – Why Frozen Yoghurt is Britain’s Hottest Healthy Option

We’re all looking for ways to enjoy a well-deserved treat – without breaking our diet or feeling guilty.

So it’s little wonder that frozen yoghurt is busy taking UK consumers and our tastebuds by storm.

In the last few years the US favourite has been becoming a massive hit here too. And as ice-cream sales melt away (down seven per cent since 2007) frozen yoghurt, or ‘fro yo’ as those in the know call it, is taking over as the new cool option.

Since 2010 sales of the low-fat dessert have soared by an astonishing 50 per cent – fuelled by the success of leading frozen yoghurt brands like yoomoo.

The brand arrived in London three years ago, helping to boost popularity and consumption of products including low fat and plain frozen yoghurt.

Since then their combination of natural, great-tasting fro-yo and elegant, on-trend yoghurt bars have given a massive boost to UK fro-yo sales, seeing them rise from £4 million to a staggering £6 million a year.

yoomoo has become a byword for great-tasting, indulgent but low-fat food and experts are predicting that with their help, thefrozen yoghurt market could be worth as much as £150 million by 2013.

For their part, fans say they love the fact that the number of calories in frozen yoghurt is much lower than similar-tasting products like ice cream (a typical serving of yoomoo low fat frozen yoghurt is only 102 calories) and with less than three per cent fat it’s certainly an ideal substitute for anyone looking to choose a healthier option or watch their weight.

As if that wasn’t reason enough, all yoomoo’s frozen yoghurt products are made from British milk and are suitable for vegetarians too, meaning they can be enjoyed by a huge range of customers.

As you’d imagine for a treat that first became popular in California, fro yo has always been popular with celebrities (Keira Knightly is said to like hers with a healthy sprinkling of choc chips) and the showbiz connection is another reason for its unseemingly unstoppable rise across the UK and beyond.

As Chris Brockman from global market research company, Mintel, explains: “Frozen yoghurt has a number of things going for it. It is a healthier alternative to ice cream and is particularly well connected to young consumers through innovative flavours.”

yoomoo co-founder, Amanda agrees. Inspired by the desire to create healthy, wholesome treats, she says: “First and foremost, we’re on a mission to create healthy, guilt free frozen yogurt which is free from nasties and made from fresh British milk.

“It is a relatively new concept for the UK, although it has been established in other countries for many years because of its role as a zero-fat alternative to other snacks.

“It is a category set for expansion and a brand that holds significant promise.” With sales set to hit triple figure millions any day now, there’s no denying that this is one food favourite that’s set to be with us for a long time yet.