What Pinkberry does

Pinkberry is a U.S.-origin frozen yogurt brand founded in 2005 in Los Angeles, California, and operated as a private franchise system under Kahala Franchising, L.L.C., a subsidiary of Kahala Brands (itself part of the MTY Food Group ecosystem per corporate contact emails at mtygroup.com). The brand sells made-to-order tart and non-tart frozen yogurt, dairy-free coconut-milk and fruit-based alternatives (marketed under its Pinkbee's sub-brand for reduced-fat milk ice cream), smoothies, limited-time crushed teas and lemonades, fresh fruit and premium toppings, plus catering and B2B food service for hotels, restaurants, colleges, corporate cafes, healthcare, recreation, movie theaters, and retailers. Distribution runs through approximately 3,000 franchised retail locations across 35 countries, supported by order.pinkberry.com online ordering, iOS and Android mobile apps, the Pinkcard loyalty program (powered by Punchh), reloadable gift cards and eGifts, and a recurring co-marketing program with major film studios.

The company's go-to-market is a classic asset-light franchise model: Pinkberry licenses its brand, product recipes, and operating playbook to independent franchisees who bear store-level capex and opex, while Pinkberry collects upfront franchise fees and ongoing royalties as a percentage of store revenue. Pricing is pay-as-you-go, typically weight- or size-based per swirl, with a separate revenue line from bulk gift card sales (eligible for a 10% corporate discount above $500). The brand differentiates on its "original tart" positioning, emphasis on real milk and real yogurt, and hand-cut fresh toppings, reinforced through limited-time flavor launches that anchor most marketing activity, including a multi-year entertainment tie-in track record with Warner Bros./DC (Wonder Woman 2017, Aquaman 2018, Supergirl 2026), Universal Pictures (Pitch Perfect 3), STXfilms (UglyDolls), and consumer-brand partnerships such as TAJÍN. There are no proprietary technology platforms, AI/ML capabilities, or API offerings; the digital stack is a third-party loyalty integration plus standard e-commerce. Pinkberry's headcount is reported at 501-1,000 employees, and the company is headquartered at 9311 East Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, co-located with Kahala Brands' corporate offices.

Name

Pinkberry

Legal name

Kahala Franchising, L.L.C.

Website

https://pinkberry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Pinkberry is a U.S. frozen yogurt franchise brand founded in 2005 in Los Angeles, operating approximately 3,000 franchised locations across 35 countries under parent Kahala Brands, serving individual consumers, catering clients, and B2B food service operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Yogurt Retail

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Yogurt Shops (THAFAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant-Based Frozen Desserts Processing (Non-Dairy Ice Cream, Gelato, Novelties) (AFAHAJAE), Reduced-Fat/Low-Fat/No-Sugar-Added Frozen Dairy Desserts Manufacturing (AFAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Frozen yogurt retail
• Tart frozen yogurt
• Frozen dessert chain
• Quick service restaurant
• Franchise frozen treats

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalty Revenue: Pinkberry generates revenue by licensing its brand and business model to franchise operators who pay franchise fees and ongoing royalties based on store revenue. The company operates under a franchising model with approximately 3,000 locations across 35 countries.
2. Retail Frozen Yogurt Sales: Revenue is generated from direct sales of frozen yogurt, smoothies, drinks, and toppings at franchised store locations. Customers customize made-to-order swirls with fresh fruit and premium toppings.
3. Catering Services: Pinkberry offers catering services for corporate parties, weddings, events, and special occasions, including full service, drop off, and pick up options. Revenue is generated through per-event catering orders.
4. Gift Cards and eGifts: Pinkberry sells physical gift cards (Pinkcards) and electronic gift cards (eGifts) in-store and online. Gift cards can be loaded with up to $100 at physical locations or $10-$100 for online purchases.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pinkberry sells made-to-order frozen yogurt across three core categories — signature tart flavors, non-tart Pinkbee's reduced-fat milk ice cream, and dairy-free coconut milk/fruit-based options — alongside fresh toppings, smoothies, and seasonal limited-time drinks. Offerings are sold primarily through independently owned and operated franchised retail stores, supplemented by catering services, B2B food service distribution, gift cards, and a mobile app-based loyalty and ordering experience.

Product overview

Pinkberry is a frozen yogurt franchise brand offering a diverse portfolio of products centered around its core frozen yogurt offerings. The company operates a unified product platform with three main frozen yogurt categories: Tart (including the signature Original Tart), Non-Tart/Pinkbee's (reduced-fat milk ice cream), and Dairy-Free (coconut milk and fruit-based) options. Supporting the core products are complementary offerings including smoothies, limited-time promotional drinks and seasonal flavors, fresh toppings, take-home containers, catering services, and food service programs for business operators. The brand also maintains a loyalty ecosystem comprising the Pinkcard rewards program (partnered with Punchh) and gift card offerings, all accessible via mobile app and website. The company operates on a franchise model with over 100 U.S. stores and approximately 3,000 locations across 35 countries under parent company Kahala Brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pinkbee's: A sub-brand product line featuring reduced-fat milk ice cream flavors such as Cookies and Cream, Chocolate, Strawberry, Tiramisu, Salted Butter Caramel, and Creme Brulee. Pinkbee's offers non-tart, indulgent frozen yogurt alternatives.

Products and services

• Tart Frozen Yogurt Signature tart frozen yogurt flavors including Original, Green Apple, Island Mango, Lava Swirl, Limoncello, Mango Lemonade, Matcha, Orange Peach Mango, Orange Tang, Passion Fruit, Piña Colada, Pineapple, Pineapple Orange Banana, Pink Lemonade, Pomegranate, Roasted Almond Cookie, Strawberry Dragonfruit, Strawberry Lemonade, Strawberry Shortcake, Ube Honey, White Peach, Yuzu Meringue, and promotional limited-time tart flavors. Sold made-to-order with hand-cut fresh fruit and premium toppings at franchised retail locations for individual consumers.
• Pinkbee's Non-Tart Frozen Yogurt and Reduced-Fat Milk Ice Cream Non-tart frozen yogurt and reduced-fat milk ice cream flavors sold under the Pinkbee's sub-brand, including Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate Hazelnut, Cinnamon Churro, Cookie Butter, Cookies n Cream, Mango Passion Jasmine, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, Salted Butter Caramel, Salted Caramel Cookie, Snickerdoodle Cookie, Summer Melon Crush, Tiramisu, Vanilla Bean, Vanilla Latte, and White Mocha. Targeted at consumers seeking indulgent, non-tart frozen dessert options.
• Dairy-Free Frozen Yogurt Dairy-free frozen yogurt options made with coconut milk or fruit bases, including Coconut Milk Chocolate, Coconut Milk Coconut, Coconut Milk Cold Brew, Coconut Milk Lemon Creme, Coconut Milk Salted Caramel, Coconut Milk Strawberry, Just Fruit Peach Passion, and Just Fruit Tropical Mango. Targeted at lactose-intolerant, vegan, and dairy-avoiding consumers.
• Smoothies

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DC Studios and Warner Bros. PicturescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Pinkberry launched a promotional partnership with DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures tied to the Supergirl film (releasing June 26, 2026). Two limited-time products were introduced: Supergirl Galactic Lemonade Frozen Yogurt and Supergirl Galactic Lemonade, featuring butterfly pea flower tea and gold glitter. Products were available nationwide from June through July 23, 2026. A sweepstakes offered prizes including a private screening and Supergirl-themed merchandise.
• Kahala BrandscoreOthers · 28 April 2024Pinkberry is owned by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Kahala Brands, one of the fastest growing franchising companies with a portfolio of 22 quick-service restaurant brands and approximately 2,900-3,000 locations in 28-35 countries.
• TAJÍNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTAJÍN, a leading chili-lime seasoning brand established in Mexico since 1985, partnered with Pinkberry for a Mango and Tajín combination offering. Tajín is a blend of mild chili peppers, sea salt, and dehydrated lime, sold in more than 24,000 point-of-sale locations in the U.S.
• STXfilmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPinkberry partnered with STXfilms to release an UglyDolls movie-inspired frozen yogurt flavor (Kiwi Strawberry) and combination (Moxy's Kiwi Strawberry Swirl) to celebrate the film's theatrical release in May 2019.
• Universal PicturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPinkberry partnered with Universal Pictures for a Pitch Perfect 3 promotional campaign. A social media contest invited fans to name their favorite Pinkberry swirl using the hashtag #PitchPerfectPinkberry for a chance to win a trip for two to the film's premiere.
• Warner Bros. PicturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPinkberry partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment to release a Wonder Woman movie-inspired frozen yogurt flavor (Power Berry) and combination (Wonder Woman Berry Swirl) in honor of the film's June 2017 release.
• Warner Bros. Pictures / DC EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPinkberry partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures on behalf of DC Entertainment for an Aquaman movie promotional frozen yogurt flavor (Pineapple Colada) and combination (Aquaman's Pineapple Colada Wave), released in November 2018.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yogurtland: Yogurtland is the largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise in the U.S., offering made-to-order swirls with rotating flavors and toppings. It directly competes with Pinkberry for the same mall, urban, and suburban consumer occasions and operates a similar franchise-led growth model.
• Sweetfrog Frozen Yogurt: Sweetfrog is a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise known for its bright branding, loyalty program, and toppings variety. It competes with Pinkberry for the same price-sensitive, family- and kid-oriented froyo consumer.
• Red Mango: Red Mango is a frozen yogurt and smoothie franchise that, like Pinkberry, pioneered the tart frozen yogurt category. The two brands compete directly on flavor authenticity, store design, and premium positioning.
• Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt: Orange Leaf is a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise emphasizing flavor rotation and customizable toppings. It is a direct peer to Pinkberry in both customer experience and franchise-driven real estate strategy.
• TCBY: TCBY is one of the original frozen yogurt chains and still operates a franchised network offering soft-serve and hand-scooped frozen yogurt. It overlaps with Pinkberry on product format and franchise model, though it skews more traditional.
• Marble Slab Creamery: Marble Slab Creamery is another franchised premium ice cream brand under the Kahala Brands portfolio. It is comparable to Pinkberry as a co-portfolio franchise offering overlap on occasion and customer, but skews toward hand-mixed ice cream rather than froyo.
• Cold Stone Creamery: Cold Stone Creamery is a sister brand under Kahala Brands and a franchised premium ice cream concept. It is a direct peer to Pinkberry in franchise operations, customer demographic, and mall/real-estate footprint, though it competes more on indulgence than on the tart froyo niche.
• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt: Menchie's is a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise with hundreds of global locations and a strong focus on community-store marketing. It competes head-to-head with Pinkberry in the same self-serve, pay-by-weight category.

Broad incumbents

• Häagen-Dazs Shops: Häagen-Dazs operates branded ice cream cafés with premium positioning and a broader dessert menu. It is a broader incumbent comparable to Pinkberry in premium frozen dessert retail, mall and high-street presence, and franchise/licensed operations.

Emerging players

• Jamba: Jamba is a franchised smoothie and blended beverage chain with growing crossover into smoothie bowls and frozen treats. It overlaps with Pinkberry's smoothie and crushed-tea menu and competes for similar healthy-leaning, mall and urban traffic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pinkberry
• Facebookfacebook.com/pinkberry
• Instagraminstagram.com/pinkberryswirl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/342094

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pinkberry