Yo-Chi

What Yo-Chi does

Yo-Chi is an Australian family-owned self-serve frozen yogurt and açaí retail chain founded in September 2012 by the Allis and Marro families in Balaclava, Melbourne. The company operates 63+ venues across five Australian states and territories (Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Northern Territory), located in shopping centers, high streets, and tourist destinations. At each venue, customers fill their own cups from self-serve machines dispensing rotating yogurt flavors (including Signature Tart, Vanilla, Salted Butterscotch, Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Coconut, Mango, Strawberry Cream, Açaí, Matcha, and Cinnamon Banana) plus an extensive toppings range, paying by the weight of their creation.

The core product technology centers on self-serve frozen yogurt dispensers built around probiotic yogurt recipes (98% fat free, live active cultures, calcium source) and a premium 14% açaí solids recipe sourced from B-Corp certified supplier 100% Amazonia. Beyond the venue format, Yo-Chi distributes take-home Greek-style yogurt tubs nationally through Coles supermarkets and offers home delivery via Uber Eats and DoorDash. Merchandise, apparel, and digital/physical gift cards (3-year validity) are sold online. The business is supported by the Chi Club mobile-app loyalty program (1 point per $10 spent, redeemable for free product), the Communi-Chi community sponsorship program (supporting 70+ Surf Life Saving clubs and local junior sports), and recurring limited-edition chef collaborations (with Pierrick Boyer, Darren Purchese, Anna Polyviou, Kirsten Tibballs, and Morgan Hipworth). Sustainability is a stated operational pillar: the company has not sold single-use plastic water bottles since 2022 (forgoing an estimated AUD $10M in annual bottled-water revenue), uses 100% commercially compostable packaging, partnered with Edible Cutlery for compostable chocolate spoons, and collaborates with KeepCup on reusable bowls (with a 10% reusable-bowl discount).

Yo-Chi generates revenue primarily through in-venue pay-by-weight transactions across its national footprint, with secondary streams from Coles grocery retail, third-party delivery, gift card and merchandise e-commerce, and the Walk Don't Run Club 2026 health-incentive promotion that integrates Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, and Garmin Connect. Pricing for venues is weight-based and not publicly disclosed per gram; the loyalty program operates on a points/round-up basis; gift cards are sold as one-time prepaid instruments valid across all Australian venues for 3 years. The company is privately held, with the legal entity Embrace the Chi Pty Ltd (ABN 43 639 336 226), and is operated without external private equity or venture capital involvement. Headcount is reported at 251-500 employees.

Name

Yo-Chi

Legal name

Embrace the Chi Pty Ltd

Website

https://yochi.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Yo-Chi is an Australian family-owned self-serve frozen yogurt and açaí retail chain operating 63+ venues across five states, where customers build custom creations by weight. The company also distributes take-home tubs through Coles, delivers via Uber Eats and DoorDash, and runs the Chi Club mobile loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt and Açaí 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 industry

Bubble Waffle, Crepe & Specialty Dessert Kiosks (THAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Self-serve frozen yogurt
• Frozen dessert retail
• Açaí bowls
• Loyalty program
• Sustainable food packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Balaclava

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Venue Sales: Yo-Chi operates self-serve frozen yogurt and açaí venues where customers fill cups with their chosen flavors and toppings, paying by the weight of their creation. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Delivery Services: Yo-Chi offers home delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash platforms, allowing customers to order frozen yogurt and toppings for delivery.
3. Grocery Retail (Take-Home Tubs): Yo-Chi products are sold through Coles nationally, with Greek-style frozen yogurts (Original, Salted Caramel, Wild Berry, Mango) available in take-home tubs for home consumption.
4. E-commerce Sales: Online sales of merchandise (apparel, accessories) and e-gift cards through the Yo-Chi website.
5. Gift Cards: Physical and digital gift cards sold at venues and online, valid for 3 years from purchase, redeemable at any Australian Yo-Chi venue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Yo-Chi operates a self-serve frozen yogurt and açaí retail business across 63+ venues in Australia, where customers dispense their own yogurt and açaí from machines and customize them with a wide range of toppings, paying by the weight of their creation. Beyond in-store venues, the company distributes take-home frozen yogurt tubs through Coles supermarkets, delivers via Uber Eats and DoorDash, and sells merchandise and gift cards through its e-commerce store.

Product overview

Yo-Chi is an Australian family-owned frozen yogurt and açaí retail business offering self-serve frozen yogurt experiences. The core product is self-serve frozen yogurt in various flavors (Signature Tart, Vanilla, Salted Butterscotch, Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Coconut, Mango, Strawberry Cream, Açaí, Matcha, Cinnamon Banana, plus seasonal/limited editions) and açaí bowls with extensive topping options. The business operates through 63+ physical venues across Australia, complemented by the Yo-Chi at Home delivery service (via Uber Eats and DoorDash), retail take-home tubs sold in Coles, and an online merchandise store. The product ecosystem includes the Chi Club loyalty program (mobile app-based with points, birthday rewards, and spontaneous offers), gift cards and vouchers, reusable Go Bowl containers (collaboration with KeepCup and Robert Gordon), community programs (Communi-Chi sponsorship and Change for Change donations), and limited-edition chef collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chi Club: Yo-Chi's loyalty rewards program offering points for purchases, birthday rewards, and exclusive member offers. Members earn 1 Chi Point per $10 spent and can redeem points for free Yo-Chi products.
• Yo-Chi x KeepCup Icy Go Bowl
• Yo-Chi Digital Gift Cards
• Yo-Chi Physical Gift Cards

Products and services

• Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Flagship self-serve frozen yogurt product where customers dispense their own yogurt and add toppings, paying by weight. Available in flavors including Signature Tart, Classic Vanilla, Salted Butterscotch, Chocolate (vegan), Cookies and Cream, Coconut (vegan), Mango, Strawberry Cream, Açaí, Cinnamon Banana, Matcha, plus seasonal/limited-time flavors. Made from real Australian milk with probiotics, live active cultures, 98% fat free, and a great source of calcium.
• Açaí Bowls Premium açaí-based frozen dessert option with sustainably sourced organic açaí berries containing 14% açaí solids (premium grade). Lower sugar formula. Sourced from B-Corp certified supplier 100% Amazonia in Brazil.
• Toppings Range Extensive range of self-serve toppings including fresh fruits, chocolates, cookies, compotes, sauces, mochi, nut clusters, and specialty items. Includes signature toppings like Auntie Suzie's Sticky Date Pudding, Special-Chi limited editions, and seasonal offerings.
• Chi Club Loyalty Program Mobile app-based loyalty program where members earn 1 Chi Point per A$10 spent, redeem points for free Yo-Chi products at 10 points, receive birthday vouchers up to A$10 in value, and access spontaneous member offers throughout the year.
• Yo-Chi Take-Home Tubs Greek-style frozen yogurts in take-home tubs for scooping at home. Flavors include Original, Salted Caramel, Wild Berry, and Mango. Available nationally through Coles supermarkets.
• Yo-Chi at Home Delivery Home delivery service operated through Uber Eats and DoorDash, allowing customers to order Yo-Chi frozen yogurts and toppings for delivery to recreate the Yo-Chi experience at home.
• E-Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase online and emailed to recipients. Redeemable at all Australian Yo-Chi venues and valid for 3 years from purchase.
• Physical Gift Cards Physical gift cards available for purchase at Yo-Chi venues, redeemable across all Australian venues and valid for 3 years from purchase.
• Yo-Chi x KeepCup Icy Go Bowl Reusable bowl collaboration with KeepCup as part of Yo-Chi's Reuse Revolution sustainability initiative. Customers receive a 10% discount when using approved reusable bowls, including complimentary A$10 vouchers with online purchases.
• Yo-Chi Merchandise Yo-Chi branded merchandise including plush toys (Bear Hugs), apparel, and accessories. Available through the online merch store, with limited-edition Red & Yellow Bear Hugs sold to support Surf Life Saving clubs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5.7 million single-use bottles forgone annually due to no bottled water policy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Edible CutlerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Edible Cutlery partnered with Yo-Chi to supply edible chocolate spoons, which sold out in less than seven days across all 63 venues. This partnership prevented over 100,000 single-use spoons from landfills, equivalent to approximately 19,000kg of CO2 emissions saved. The initiative went viral with nearly 3 million views across social platforms.
• KeepCupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYo-Chi partnered with KeepCup to create the Yo-Chi x KeepCup Icy Go Bowl and Yo-Chi x KeepCup Go Bowl reusable bowl collection. These products support Yo-Chi's sustainability mission and Reuse Revolution, with customers receiving a 10% discount when using approved reusable bowls.
• 100% AmazoniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYo-Chi sources premium organic açaí berries from 100% Amazonia, a B-Corp certified supplier in Brazil. The partnership ensures ethical açaí sourcing with 14% açaí solids (premium grade). Yo-Chi co-owner Ollie visited Brazil and the Amazon to verify ethical practices around supply chain, labor, and environmental sustainability.
• Uber EatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYo-Chi partners with Uber Eats for home delivery of frozen yogurt and toppings, allowing customers to recreate the Yo-Chi experience at home.
• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYo-Chi partners with DoorDash for home delivery of frozen yogurt and toppings, enabling nationwide delivery access for customers.
• Surf Life Saving AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYo-Chi supports Surf Life Saving clubs across Australia through fundraising, Red & Yellow Day celebrations, and limited edition Bear Hug plushie sales. Yo-Chi is supporting 70 SLS clubs local to their venues. All profits from Bear Hug sales go directly to local Surf Life Saving clubs.
• ColescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYo-Chi products are sold through Coles nationally, with Greek-style frozen yogurts (Original, Salted Caramel, Wild Berry, Mango) available in take-home tubs for home consumption.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt: Menchie's operates the world's largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise with pay-by-weight pricing, comparable loyalty programs, and a similar family/child-friendly positioning to Yo-Chi.
• KiwiYo: KiwiYo is a direct Australian competitor offering self-serve frozen yogurt with toppings, operating venues in Australia. Closest geographic and format peer to Yo-Chi.
• Yogurtland: Yogurtland is the largest US-based self-serve frozen yogurt franchise with similar pay-by-weight model, customizable toppings, and rotating flavors. Highly comparable to Yo-Chi's core self-serve proposition.
• Pinkberry: Pinkberry is a globally recognized premium frozen yogurt chain offering tart flavors with toppings. Comparable to Yo-Chi on premium positioning, though it does not use the self-serve format.

Emerging players

• N2 Extreme Gelato: N2 Extreme Gelato is an Australian-made-to-order liquid nitrogen gelato concept focused on experiential premium frozen desserts. Comparable as a premium experiential dessert destination with venue-based model, though serving gelato.
• Samboy Toppings Bar (Toppingz-style açaí & frozen yogurt): Comparable Australian açaí bowl and dessert specialty venues targeting similar health-conscious and premium-dessert-seeking consumers as Yo-Chi's açaí range.

Regional players

• Yogurberry: Yogurberry is an Asia-Pacific-origin self-serve frozen yogurt brand with an Australian presence. Directly comparable self-serve frozen yogurt concept competing for similar customers in the same region.
• Icberry Yogurt: Icberry is an Australian self-serve frozen yogurt chain directly competing in Yo-Chi's home market with similar self-serve, pay-by-weight model and topping customization.

Broad incumbents

• Cold Rock Ice Creamery: Cold Rock is an iconic Australian franchise chain that mixes ice cream with customer-selected toppings on a chilled slab. Comparable as a customized frozen dessert retail model in Australia, though serving scooped ice cream rather than yogurt.
• Gelatissimo: Gelatissimo is an established Australian dessert chain specializing in gelato. Comparable as a specialty frozen dessert retail chain with Australian venue footprint, though focused on gelato rather than frozen yogurt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/iloveyochi
• Xx.com/weloveyochi
• Facebookfacebook.com/iloveyochi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yo-chi-frozen-yogurt

Compliance2 records

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 Yo-Chi