Frozen yoghurt Yo-Chi toying with global expansion

Cult frozen yoghurt chain Yo-Chi has received considerable interest from potential overseas partners after opening four stores in southeast Queensland in three months.

Stephen Bliss at Yo-Chi, Bulimba. Picture: Richard Walker

Cult frozen yoghurt chain Yo-Chi has been considering going global after its massive expansion in Queensland.

The rapidly-growing brand opened three stores on the Gold Coast and one in inner-Brisbane in the past three months.

A Yo-Chi spokesman said the brand was expecting more venues in the state and across the country.

“We’re also toying with the opportunity to take Yo-Chi global in 2025,” he said.

“Watch this space.”

He said the company received considerable interest from potential partners overseas and is looking at southeast Asia as one of their markets.

Founded in Melbourne 12 years ago, the TikTok famous chain will open another location in Newstead next week, and more at Adelaide’s Tea Tree Plaza and in Sydney’s Coogee.

Customers at Yo-Chi Bulimba. Picture: Grace Koo

Its latest Bulimba venue, which was open on August 5, has been packed in the afternoons even a week after its opening.

Customers were mostly in their 10s and 20s, coming in a big group.

But there were also families bringing their children to the shop.

A Yo-Chi spokesman said southeast Queensland is the brand’s “heartland”.

“We were blown away by the queues out the door from day one, especially being a Monday in the middle of winter,” he said.

“We love our Queensland customers.

“Being a social, outdoorsy bunch, they’ve embraced our venues as a space for connection with friends and family over a bowl of frozen yoghurt.

“The demand for new venues spurred us on to secure some amazing locations across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which is why we’ve managed to open four new venues in the past few months.”

Yo-Chi will have 12 venues across the state by the end of this month.

“We genuinely tune in to what customers are telling us in our venues, in our reviews, on our socials, and that plays a big part in helping to determine where we go next,” the spokesman said.

Roberto Altimier and Jacob Murphy at Yo-Chi Bulimba. Picture: Grace Koo

Customer Jacob Murphy visits the store twice a week and rated its food 11 out of 10.

“I like the taste of the yoghurt,” he said.

Sienna Borg, 13, comes to the store every day since its opening because she “loves the vibe”.

“They’ve a lot of flavours and toppings,” she said.

She said she loves acai and everything at the store.