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Island Yogurt Kailua Closing

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Went for some froyo today at Island Yogurt in Kailua only to see this sign.

island-yogurt-kailua-closing

While we don’t froyo often, Island Yogurt was our go to spot with a variety of flavors and convenient parking. They’ve been there for several years (well as Orange Tree originally) but the rent just got too high.

When the Froyo Wars started in 2009, I wondered who would make it and who wouldn’t. From the list of contenders, I honestly don’t know who’s left standing, but Yogurt Mama is still holding it down in Kailua.

The Age of Froyo is essentially done superceded by the Age of Milk Tea and the continued climb of coffee…

Froyo from Forty Carrots

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40-carrots3Went to Forty Carrots in Bloomingdales to try out their frozen yogurt. The froyo was good, especially the strawberry, but there’s a few kinks in service that need to be worked out. We wanted to split a large size between kids which was said not to be a problem by the cashier. They’d even split it for us. Great! Then another employee makes the froyo… in a single cup. I guess he didn’t hear or understand what was just discussed. The cashier apologizes but then several employees congregate to discuss something assumedly with our large froyo split into smaller sizes.

After some confusion, our large is finally split. Sadly, the original large in single cup wasn’t offered up as an apology. The workers took it to the kitchen to dump or to eat. Not sure. What I am sure about is if they gave us this “mistake,” I’d have positively glowing remarks to make about Forty Carrots in Bloomingdales. Instead, I’m telling people the froyo is good. Here’s my Yelp review.

Oh, the also sell water in boxes, not plastic bottles.

40-carrots2

And their food inspection placard is very nicely framed.

40-carrots1

Cherry on Top Froyo, Why Not?

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I was just saying that Hawaii doesn’t have enough froyo spots on this island, and look what we get! Cherry on Top frozen yogurt is coming to Hawaii in the Pearl City area across of Walmart.

Their flavors sound good, and they have to be in order to keep pace in the Froyo Wars. Who’s winning? Yogurtland? Menchies? Orange Tree, no wait, Orange Grove?  Milano Freezer?  Cerealremix?  Oh wait, they don’t serve froyo… yet. 😉

The Changing Face of the Froyo Wars

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With the sprawl of froyo shops all over Oahu, you know the Froyo Wars is on. Who’ll survive in this over-saturated market? Who’ll be the first casualty?

As with any successful campaign, changing the game is key to battle. Instead of fighting the enemy on their terms, you change things up and dictate your own conditions to do battle. Yogen Fruz is doing just that with their Smoothie candy. Not just fighting the froyo front, Yogen Fruz is expanding their battlefield to include the candy market.

Will this maneuver outpace Yogen Fruz from their froyo competition or will it split and weaken their forces?

It’s Snowing at Windward Mall

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Windward Mall has their faux show of snow again in the center of the mall. At the top of every hour, you can play with the soapy snow during a 15-minute snowfall. The kids love it.

Snowing at Windward Mall

After the snow, you can get a froyo at the recently opened yogen fruz.

yogen fruz at Windward Mall

I’m not so much a fan of the blend-your-own flavor of froyo at the fruz. I prefer the more exotic flavored ‘gurts at Yogurtland or Orange Tree.

Where’s Your Froyo From?

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Where do you get your frozen yogurt from?  Luckily, Oahu will have 23 froyo locations jammed on to this island.  Here’s a map showing 23 locations of Orange Tree (includes upcoming locations), Red Mango, Menchies, Yami, Yogurtland, Yogurt Mama, and TCBY.


View HI Froyo in a larger map

Who will remain standing once the Froyo Wars is over?

Updated: Added yogen fruz and Milano Freezer bringing the total to 27 (thanks @surfchik4jesus).

Can’t Wait for the Froyo Wars!

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How many frozen yogurt chains are there in Hawaii now? You know they all can’t make it here on this froyo saturated island. I can’t wait for the wars to begin and see who’s left standing.

The contenders:

  • Yogurtland – across from UH in that location that keeps changing vendors, Pearl City, and Hawaii Kai
  • Orange Tree – expanding in the “smaller” markets around the island and is opening in Ala Moana
  • Red Mango – now at Kahala Mall and in Waikiki
  • Menchies – at Ward, Kapolei, and Mililani
  • Yogurt Mama – only Kailua and about to battle Orange Tree
  • Yami – the venerable chain that survived the last froyo war
  • TCBY – still kicking
  • Milano Freezer – Westridge Shopping Center Aiea
  • yogen fruz – actually taking on the challenge of Windward Mall!

Who else will be competing and fighting as your froyo favorite? The upcoming winter months will be the first test. Any bets who’ll fold first?  Yogurt Mama is the easy pick with a single (bad) location and Orange Tree opening up the street.  And notice, not one opening in Windward Mall (updated with yogen fruz who will be opening a location in the mall).