TCBY The Country's Best Yogurt

Frozen pies available in store | Take home | Grub Hub delivery | Like TCBY on Facebook, follow us on Instagram by Emily Kemme Jenny Brynteson is in the business of selling frozen yogurt thanks to her Dad, Herrick Garnsey. The Greeley TCBY franchise owner credits him with her livelihood; she opened shop in 2012 in large part because of nostalgia for the days when Garnsey took his grandchildren on excursions to the first Greeley TCBY shop — known as “The Country’s Best Yogurt” by many. When franchisee Darrell Gablehouse closed that shop, “It was a sad day for many Greeley people,” Brynteson recalls. Years later, and after spending time with one of her daughters who was living in California at the time, where frozen yogurt was a big thing, that history spurred her to research opening a new shop in her home town. Brynteson liked TCBY’s new store model, too; while the original concept had started off with a set menu and only a few flavors, over the last 30 years the company has evolved into a self-serve platform with flavors changing each month. Franchise modernization included updating stores with a clean, edgy look that appeals to all ages. But what Brynteson likes most about being in the dessert business — and TCBY, in particular — is her belief in the company’s healthy product. Her customers can choose to create either a nutritious, healthy treat or a decadent dessert. It all depends on the size of the cup, how many ounces of fro-yo you get and what you select from over 40 toppings to customize your treat. There are no standard sizes; it’s all up to the consumer. Although yogurt is made from 98% milk, unlike ice cream there is no requirement that it contain cream. Frozen yogurt is good for you because of the probiotics — live cultures that boost the immune and digestive systems and add a nutritional element. For Brynteson, the product’s billing as “Super Fro-Yo” is its primary selling point. To qualify under this classification, the yogurt must have a minimum of 3 grams of fiber, 7 types of live and active probiotic cultures, contain at least 20 percent of the daily value of Vitamin D and Calcium and have at least 4 grams of protein. This nutritional bonanza contributes to bone and muscle health. “It’s a dessert but it’s something you can feel better about eating,” she notes. Most of the yogurt TCBY sells is gluten-free and there are several fat-free options, including a refreshing mango, one of several dairy-free sorbets. Fat-free versions in vanilla and Dutch chocolate flavors are available. A dairy-free almond milk formulation and two sugar-free yogurts round out the smorgasbord of options. Consumers familiar with TCBY most likely have tasted White Chocolate Mousse, the flavor that started it all in Arkansas back in 1981. But these days there is so much more to taste and try. Get creative with an assortment of toppings ranging from gummy bears to nuts to fresh fruits to chocolate candies. Choose from a wide variety of rotating yogurt flavors, including Italian Tart — a plain yogurt with hints of lemon, a Banana Cheesecake you’ll swear is frozen cheesecake, or have a shot of espresso in yogurt form with Coffee. Oreo is as close to the beloved cookie as you can get. My favorite was Marshmallow; turn it into a s’more with graham cracker crumbles and chocolate drizzled on top. Your Super Fro-Yo cravings can also be satisfied with custom-created yogurt pies made in house by Shannon Cubbons or call Order-Up for yogurt delivery that arrives at your door miraculously unmelted. Celebrate a special occasion with these healthy treats! Brynteson has freezers out on loan to Work Out West and Bulldog Deli if you’re out and about and have a hankering for a refreshing treat. Brynteson finds yogurt-selling is a year-round business driven by customer service, and notes that the two things that keep her busiest are keeping people happy and making sure her store is sparkling clean — a challenge, given the potentially sticky nature of dessert. There are a handful of slow times. “But if the sun is shining through our southern window, people trickle in all day.” In sunny, health-conscious Colorado, she seems to be on to a good idea.