GREAT FOOD
The Creation of Swirleez Frozen Yogurt Inc photo
Chris Digerati
T
he birth of Swirleez began while
and creativity to bring in our own product line
on a family trip in Myrtle Beach in
and decor ideas. We wanted to offer more than
March 2013. After a fun game of mini-
just delicious tasting frozen yogurt. From the
putting, our family felt like having
beginning, we have offered home-made crepes
an ice cream. Around the corner from us was a
and waffles — warm, comfort food that could be
quaint, bistro-style shop called The Barking Fish
accompanied with a scoop of our yogurt, fresh
Yogurt Company. We were happily greeted by the
fruit and paired with a cup of our freshly-brewed
middle-aged female owner who explained this new
coffee or loose leaf tea. All of our products and
concept to us, spoke of all the health benefits of her
supplies (other than our printed custom yogurt
yogurt and showed us how to help ourselves to the
bowls) are sourced locally here in Ontario with
yogurt machines and toppings. We were hooked! I
many right here in Barrie.
fell in love with the ability to create your own treat
from choosing what flavours of frozen yogurt to
respond more readily to customers’ needs. Upon
dispense into your bowl to the variety of toppings
several requests to host birthday parties, which
to top it off. I was like a kid in a candy store!
was not in the original business plan, we rented
additional space behind Swirleez that serves as
My husband and I being entrepreneurs, our
Being independently-owned also allows us to
“wheels” started turning as we indulged in our
our fun Party Room and meeting space for up
frozen treats on the bistro patio. “Would the
to 20 people. Our birthday parties are a hit with
people of Barrie embrace something like this?” we
both kids and parents alike! We have trained party
asked ourselves. “Would frozen yogurt survive in
coordinators that lead the children through a
the North where it’s cold 5–6 months of the year?”
variety of fun, yogurt-related games and activities
We thought, yes! So that family trip started an
as well as teach them how we make a batch of
endeavour that eventually became Swirleez.
yogurt in our Yogurt Factory. And of course, they
get to enjoy a bowl of yogurt of their own choosing.
Upon returning home, we researched all
aspects of the frozen yogurt industry from
design, franchises, suppliers, locations, names,
yogurt flavours based on customer demand
We have brought in various toppings and
and colour schemes to accessory product
because we care about our customers, we listen
items and equipment. We chose to build our
to our customers, and we want everyone to have a
own independent store rather than purchase
very positive experience at Swirleez. >
a franchise because we wanted the flexibility
PIE DIGEST 35