TCBY

What TCBY does

TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt) is a frozen yogurt restaurant chain founded in 1981 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and currently operating approximately 350 locations globally through a primarily franchise-based model. As of end-2025, TCBY operated 115 domestic franchise shops (down from ~125 mid-year and ~168 in 2022), supplemented by international units including a newly signed multi-store development agreement in Qatar. The brand is owned by Pearl Street Equity (acquired 2023) and operates under Famous Brands International, LLC, which also owns Mrs. Fields.

The company's core product is soft-serve frozen yogurt manufactured and delivered to stores as a dairy product (not powder) to preserve the integrity of seven live and active cultures — B. lactis, L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. lactis, L. casei, S. thermophilus, and L. rhamnosus. TCBY offers 30+ soft-serve flavors with dietary variants (fat-free, low-fat, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, no-sugar-added), hand-scooped yogurt, 35+ toppings, specialty beverages (Cappuccino Chillers, Frappe Chillers, milkshakes, smoothies), specialty treats (banana splits, sundaes, parfaits), and frozen yogurt cakes/pies. Its 2011-launched Super FroYo sub-line meets proprietary nutritional thresholds (3+ grams fiber, 4+ grams protein, good source of calcium and vitamin D, 120 calories or less per serving), and TCBY claims to be the first brand to market Greek Frozen Yogurt in soft-serve format.

TCBY generates revenue primarily through franchise fees and royalties (recurring stream) and retail store sales at franchise and company-owned locations (transaction-based). Distribution is via 350+ franchise locations across the US and internationally, supplemented by a Froyo Club Rewards loyalty mobile app on iOS/Android (10 points per $1 spent, tiered redemption up to 50% off), a physical gift card program (Worldpay-powered balance checking), and a multi-channel marketing approach spanning social, email/SMS, and the 45th anniversary campaign. New leadership under Executive Director Rich Screnci has shifted strategy toward sustainable unit count growth, franchisee profitability, digital sales, and drive-thru initiatives after years of domestic unit decline.

Name

TCBY

Legal name

Famous Brands International, LLC

Website

https://tcby.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

TCBY is a 45-year-old frozen yogurt franchise chain operating approximately 350 locations globally. Founded in 1981, the brand serves health-conscious and younger consumers with proprietary soft-serve yogurt containing seven live cultures, Super FroYo nutritional formulations, and 30+ flavors under Pearl Street Equity ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Yogurt Restaurants

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 industry

Frozen Yogurt Manufacturing (AFAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Frozen yogurt chain
• Soft serve desserts
• Franchise restaurant
• Froyo retail
• Dessert shop

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalties: TCBY operates primarily as a franchisor, generating revenue through franchise fees and ongoing royalties from franchise operators. The company ended 2025 with 115 domestic franchise shops, down 10 year-over-year.
2. Retail Store Sales: Company-owned or franchise retail locations generate revenue from direct consumer sales of frozen yogurt and related products including soft serve, hand scooped, toppings, specialty beverages, and specialty treats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TCBY operates a franchise-based chain of frozen yogurt retail restaurants offering soft-serve and hand-scooped frozen yogurt with seven live and active probiotic cultures, alongside more than 35 toppings, specialty beverages, prepared treats, and frozen yogurt cakes and pies. The company sells directly to consumers through approximately 350 company-owned and franchised locations across the United States with international expansion into Qatar, while also collecting franchise fees and royalties from independent franchise operators.

Product overview

TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt) is a frozen yogurt restaurant chain founded in 1981 in Little Rock, Arkansas, now operating over 350 locations globally. The core offering is soft-serve frozen yogurt available in over 30 flavors with multiple dietary options (fat-free, low-fat, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, no-sugar-added). The product portfolio includes Hand Scooped frozen yogurt, over 35 toppings, Specialty Beverages (Cappuccino Chillers, Frappe Chillers, Milkshakes, Sorbet Fizz, Smoothies), Specialty Treats (Banana Splits, Parfaits, Shivers, Sundaes), and Frozen Yogurt Cakes & Pies. TCBY operates the Froyo Club Rewards loyalty program via mobile app, and offers a gift card program. The brand is owned by Pearl Street Equity and is part of Famous Brands International.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt TCBY's signature soft-serve frozen yogurt available in over 30 flavors including regular, fat-free, low-fat, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and no-sugar-added varieties, featuring 7 live and active probiotic cultures per serving. Sold to consumers through TCBY retail locations.
• Hand Scooped Frozen Yogurt Pre-packaged scoopable frozen yogurt flavors available in fat-free, low-fat, dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free varieties, sold at TCBY retail stores for individual consumption.
• Super FroYo Premium frozen yogurt product line launched in 2011 with strict nutritional guidelines of 3+ grams fiber, 4+ grams protein, good source of calcium and vitamin D, 120 calories or less per serving, and 7 live and active probiotic cultures per serving. Targeted at health-conscious consumers.
• Toppings Over 35 topping options including fruits, candies, and indulgences such as hot fudge, caramel, brownie bites, and cheesecake, sold to consumers at TCBY stores to customize frozen yogurt orders.
• Specialty Beverages Beverage offerings including Cappuccino Chillers frozen coffee drinks, Frappe Chillers iced coffee drinks, Milkshakes, Sorbet Fizz dairy-free sorbet blended with Sprite, and Smoothies, sold at TCBY retail stores.
• Specialty Treats Prepared dessert treats including Banana Splits, Parfaits, Shivers, and Sundaes, served at TCBY retail stores with hot fudge, caramel, or brownie toppings.
• Cakes & Pies Frozen yogurt cakes and pies available in Oreo or Graham Cracker crusts, featuring classic TCBY flavors such as Golden Vanilla, Low Fat Chocolate, White Chocolate Mousse, and Low Fat Strawberry, sold at TCBY stores.
• Froyo Club Rewards Mobile-based loyalty program allowing members to earn 10 points per $1 spent, redeem tiered rewards, receive surprise gifts and special offers, and get a free froyo treat on their birthday via iOS and Android apps.
• Gift Cards Physical gift cards available for purchase at participating TCBY retail locations, redeemable in-store for food and beverages, with online balance checking via Card Manager powered by Worldpay.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 consecutive years of positive same-store sales under Pearl Street Equity ownership

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Sterling RestaurantsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 November 2025TCBY signed a multi-store franchise development agreement with Sterling Restaurants to bring the brand to malls across Qatar. More than 10 new shops are expected over the next five years as part of this international expansion initiative.
• Samuel Batt (Franchisee)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 October 2024Samuel Batt is a TCBY franchisee who opened the 15th co-branded Mrs. Fields and TCBY location at Carolina Place Mall in Pineville, North Carolina in October 2024. This represents a dual-concept model allowing customers to access both dessert brands from a single counter.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 16 Handles: 16 Handles is a smaller self-serve frozen yogurt franchise chain that competes directly with TCBY in the pay-by-weight, toppings-bar frozen yogurt category.
• Red Mango: Red Mango is a frozen yogurt and smoothie franchise with probiotic-positioned products, directly comparable to TCBY's health-forward, cultures-based positioning and franchise retail model.
• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt: Menchie's is one of the largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchisors in the world, with a comparable franchise-based retail model, rotating flavor lineup, and topping bar that directly competes with TCBY for health-conscious dessert consumers.
• Yogurtland: Yogurtland operates a franchise-based self-serve frozen yogurt chain with hundreds of locations, offering rotating flavors and toppings in a similar pay-by-weight format that competes head-to-head with TCBY for the same consumer occasion.
• Pinkberry: Pinkberry is a national frozen yogurt chain that helped popularize the category alongside TCBY and continues to compete for the same health-positioned, premium frozen yogurt consumer with a similar franchise and company-store mix.

Broad incumbents

• Mrs. Fields: Mrs. Fields is TCBY's sister brand under Famous Brands International, operating a similar franchise-based retail dessert model with cookies and baked goods, and increasingly being co-located with TCBY stores in dual-brand formats.
• Cold Stone Creamery: Cold Stone Creamery is a national ice cream franchise that competes with TCBY for premium frozen dessert occasions, using a similar franchise model and customizable mix-in format that overlaps with TCBY's toppings-driven offering.
• Dairy Queen: Dairy Queen is a massive QSR and frozen dessert franchise network whose soft-serve ice cream and Blizzard treats compete with TCBY for impulse and family dessert occasions across thousands of U.S. locations.
• Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins is the largest U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert specialty chain, competing with TCBY for dessert occasions across thousands of franchise locations with a broader frozen treat portfolio.

Emerging players

• Jamba: Jamba is a smoothie and blended beverage franchise whose frozen, fruit-forward, better-for-you menu overlaps with TCBY's smoothie and Sorbet Fizz offerings, competing for the same health-positioned, mall and lifestyle-center consumer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tcby
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/tcbyfrozenyogurt
• Facebookfacebook.com/tcby
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tcby
• Instagraminstagram.com/tcby

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 TCBY