Market Research Reports that Fro-Yo is Hot

The frozen dessert industry has grown by 16% since 2003, according to Market-Research.com, to become a $12.1 billion business -- and much of that growth has been from frozen yogurt. Katrina Brown Hunt of MSNBC.com reports that the "The frozen-yogurt business has been in the midst of a makeover since 2005, when Pinkberry opened its first sleek shop in Los Angeles, offering a distinctly tart-tasting (and many would say more authentic) version of frozen yogurt with a wide variety of toppings. South Korea-based Red Mango followed into the U.S. market, also offering tart fro-yos with similar toppings.The companies that supply these stores are doing a rollicking business. YoCream International, for instance, a major supplier of custom-made and pre-made frozen yogurts, saw its 2008 sales go up by 52 percent. The first half of fiscal year 2009 has seen a 70-percent boost compared to last year, with a big surge in sales to single-unit stores."

As a market research professional, is the latest fro-yo just a blip or something bigger to come?