Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Recognized On Inc. 5000 And Nation's Restaurant News Next 20 Lists

OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, America's fastest-growing frozen yogurt concept,¹ was named to the annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. Orange Leaf ranks #695 overall and #19 in the Food and Beverage category. In its 33rd annual list, Inc. provides year-over-year insight into the American economy by tracking the growth rate and revenue of the fastest-growing companies in a variety of industry sectors.

In addition, Orange Leaf was ranked 8^th on the Nation's Restaurant News "Next 20", a list of the top 20 chains in America that are on the rise. Nation's Restaurant News conducted research for its "Next 20" from its annual Top 200 census of chains by reviewing United States system-wide foodservice sales, chain growth and new store development.

"Our continued growth in the U.S. among new and current franchisees as well as our efforts to expand into China, the Middle East and Mexico made these awards possible," said Reese Travis, CEO of Orange Leaf. "I am so proud of our team who works hard every day to position Orange Leaf among the top few food and beverage brands."

The development of new, non-traditional models, such as the company's first mobile unit and kiosks, has also helped spur growth this year. Orange Leaf became one of the first frozen yogurt brands to roll out a new, 26-foot mobile unit this summer, modeled after popular food trucks. In addition, the company opened kiosks in both the U.S. and Australia this summer. Both models give franchisees the opportunity to expand with less overhead and provide a more flexible real estate model that can be deployed in a wide variety of properties such as malls, airports, stadiums, theme/amusement parks, office buildings, university campuses, casinos and train or bus stations.

Orange Leaf's international and domestic expansion also contributed to its overall aggressive growth. This year, the company announced plans to launch its first stores in China with a commitment to opening 100 stores across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau in the coming years. The company also continues to aggressively explore opportunities in Mexico, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Domestically, Orange Leaf has opened 321 stores and has 69 stores under construction in 40 states. It currently has plans to reach 1,000 total stores by 2020.

Franchisee recruitment is a key part of Orange Leaf's strategy to grow the brand internationally and domestically. Currently, Orange Leaf has approximately 210 franchisees and is adding new ones continually, with almost 70 percent of the stores currently under construction being built by existing franchisees. The company's new franchisee recruitment website, open to anyone who is interested, includes candid videos from existing franchisees and detailed information about the franchising experience with the brand, including details about store designs, models, franchising costs and marketing support.

Compared to peers, Orange Leaf's up-front franchise fees are roughly half to a third the cost of its competitors and about half of what they charge for ongoing royalty fees. Orange Leaf combines an experienced franchise sales organization and compelling unit economics with a commissary model to drive a strong profitability profile and scale.  

About Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt is a self-serve, choose-your-own-toppings frozen dessert franchise with more than 300 locations in the U.S. and Australia. Orange Leaf offers a multitude of delicious traditional and original flavors, including no-sugar-added, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan alternatives. Customized with a generous selection of do-it-yourself toppings, Orange Leaf provides an innocent indulgence, "self served" in a stimulating atmosphere. In 2014, Entrepreneur ranked Orange Leaf as one of the top three new franchises, and Technomic ranked the company as one of the top five fastest-growing chains. Orange Leaf's pro-franchisee culture offers some of the lowest fees in the industry and encourages owners to become a part of their communities. For more information, visit the company's website at http://orangeleafyogurt.com, "like" Orange Leaf Yogurt on Facebook, or follow on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

¹ IBISWorld Industry Report "Frozen Yogurt Stores in the U.S.," Nov. 2013

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SOURCE Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt